Points of principality

John Naylon's view (Eyewitness, THES, February 19) that Andorra offers Gibraltar a promising precedent of "joint sovereignty" overlooks the fact that Andorra is an independent country that is a member of the UN. Andorra's constitution limits its two co-princes (heads of state), the Bishop of Urgell (Spain) and the president of France to the role of reigning rather than ruling. The exercise of sovereign power is vested in the elected parliament and prime minister. The analogy is with Canada, whose head of state is the Queen. The fact that Canada has a head of state who does not reside in the country does not mean Canada is under British sovereignty. The fact that Andorra has two heads of state who do not reside in the country does not mean that Andorra is under the "joint sovereignty" of France and Spain.

Christiane Conzemius Ottawa, Canada