The Gibraltar Thread: Britain versus Spain

[LazyLion]

Britain raised "serious concerns" with Spain late Sunday, after the government of Gibraltar complained that Madrid was causing "unnecessary delays" for cars travelling to and from the British territory.

The small outcrop off southern Spain has often soured relations between Madrid and London, as Spain rejects British sovereignty over it.

Gibraltar's government accused Spain of "torture" after police stopped and searched thousands of vehicles crossing the border at the weekend, causing delays of up to six hours in high temperatures.

"We are aware and very concerned about events at the Spain/Gibraltar border," said a Foreign Office spokesman.

Foreign Secretary William Hague had raised his "serious concerns" with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and a protest had also been registered with the Spanish ambassador to London, the spokesman said.

Garcia-Margallo said Spain was open to "dialogue" but that it had to respect European Union norms, reinforcing frontier controls "whenever necessary."

The British Foreign Office spokesman said he did not "wish to speculate" as to whether a recent disagreement between the two countries over the dropping of concrete blocks in the sea off Gibraltar was behind the intensified searches.

Gibraltar says the blocks are intended to create an artificial reef to increase biodiversity in its sovereign waters, but Spanish Foreign Ministry sources have said they cause environmental damage and disrupt fishing.

The contractors laying the blocks last week were obstructed by Spanish police and fishing vessels, the government in Gibraltar said.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sharply criticized Spain for using the border to put pressure on Gibraltar.

"It's a typical, childish reaction from Spain," he said, according to the Gibraltar Chronicle.


Source : Sapa-dpa /sdv
Date : 29 Jul 2013 12:41

 

[LazyLion]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23482549

 

[LazyLion]

Gibraltar blasts 'Neanderthal' Spain Toll Threat

Gibraltar has sharply criticised a threat by Spain to impose a 50-euro ($66) toll to enter or leave the tiny British-held territory, describing it as a "neanderthal approach" reminiscent of the tactics of the fascist era of General Francisco Franco.

The British outpost in the Mediterranean, known as the Rock, said it was reacting to "belligerent" comments by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in an interview published Sunday in conservative daily ABC.

"The statements attributed to Sr Margallo by ABC are the most backward-looking and threatening since before the frontier closed and are clearly reminiscent of the politics and tactics on Gibraltar deployed by the fascist regime led by Franco in the 50s and 60s," the Gibraltar government said in a statement released late Sunday.

Spain closed the frontier crossing with Gibraltar, just 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 square miles) and home to about 30,000 people, in 1969. It was fully reopened only in 1985.

Spain's ruling Popular Party was "trying to manipulate the media to sustain its neanderthal approach", Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in the statement.

Spain's foreign minister was quoted as saying of Gibraltar: "Playtime is over."

In the interview with ABC, Garcia Margallo complained that Gibraltar had unilaterally decided to build a concrete artificial reef in surrounding waters, which Gibraltar said was necessary to stop incursions by Spanish fishing boats.

In response, the foreign minister said Spain would consider:

- introducing a 50-euro tax to enter or leave Gibraltar, bringing in money that could be used to help Spanish fisherman who had suffered from Gibraltar's new reef;

- closing Spanish airspace to restrict some flights;

- reforming online gambling laws to oblige Gibraltar to use Spanish servers if it wants to operate in Spain, allowing Madrid to rake in taxes. Gibraltar is home to several large online gambling firms.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty. Britain refuses to do so against the wishes of Gibraltarians.

The latest spat came after Gibraltar accused Spain of deliberately holding up cars entering the territory by searching every vehicle and creating delays of up to six hours.

Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday it would not compromise on the question of sovereignty in Gibraltar, which overlooks the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

"Our differences with Spain on Gibraltar will be resolved by political means through our relationship as EU partners, not through disproportionate measures such as the border delays we have seen over the past week," it said.

The border delays ended on July 29 after British Foreign Secretary William Hague phoned Garcia-Margallo to express "serious concerns" at the stoppages and Britain's Foreign Office formally protested to the Spanish ambassador in London.


Source : Sapa-AFP /pk
Date : 05 Aug 2013 11:28

 

[Creag]

Could there be a wee war over this like the Falklands? Regardless, as I see it, Spain needs the UK more than it admits, so this would be really stupid to fight over.

 

[Alan]

Could there be a wee war over this like the Falklands? Regardless, as I see it, Spain needs the UK more than it admits, so this would be really stupid to fight over.

A snowballs chance in hell

 

[Nerfherder]

Could there be a wee war over this like the Falklands? Regardless, as I see it, Spain needs the UK more than it admits, so this would be really stupid to fight over.

Spain is rapidly being invaded by Britain, the amount of expats moving there is increasing by the day.

Within a few years they will hold quite a vote there.

 

[LazyLion]

Could there be a wee war over this like the Falklands? Regardless, as I see it, Spain needs the UK more than it admits, so this would be really stupid to fight over.

Will start again with the strong words, diplomatic cables, then maybe sanctions, then military posturing before it ever got to that stage.

 

[Ockie]

Do these small little territories actually mean something to Britain or is it a drain on finances? I cant imagine Falklands actually contributing meaningfully to the coffers .... not to mentione this little speck of land.

 

[Jola]

Spain is rapidly being invaded by Britain, the amount of expats moving there is increasing by the day.

Within a few years they will hold quite a vote there.

Have you noticed the number of young Spaniards in London ?

No work in Spain so they seek greener pastures.

 

[Jola]

... this little speck of land.

Quite major strategic importance - helped to defeat Germany in WW II.

 

[LazyLion]

Do these small little territories actually mean something to Britain or is it a drain on finances? I cant imagine Falklands actually contributing meaningfully to the coffers .... not to mentione this little speck of land.

It has strategic, military and tourism importance.

But England is also very loathe to give up any of her small territories... it's a reputation thing.

 

[TJ99]

Do these small little territories actually mean something to Britain or is it a drain on finances? I cant imagine Falklands actually contributing meaningfully to the coffers .... not to mentione this little speck of land.

It's not always about money. Gibraltar is strategically VERY important - it's the gateway to the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.

 

[Ockie]

It has strategic, military and tourism importance.

But England is also very loathe to give up any of her small territories... it's a reputation thing.

mmm Ok. Ek se nog steeds ... hulle moet ons donnerse diamant terug gee!

 

[ponder]

I cant imagine Falklands actually contributing meaningfully to the coffers .... not to mentione this little speck of land.

The Falklands will soon bring in billions from oil & gas. Small specs of land also give you commercial rights in said area, fishing being one example.

 

[LazyLion]

mmm Ok. Ek se nog steeds ... hulle moet ons donnerse diamant terug gee!

I think the queen has one in her belly button ring.

 

[zippy]

Have you noticed the number of young Spaniards in London ?

No work in Spain so they seek greener pastures.

Impose the same fee on Spaniards coming to the UK. Set up an office for ETA in London.

 

[LazyLion]

Spain defends 'irrevocable' Gibraltar border checks

Spain defended its "irrevocable" right to carry out checks at its border with the tiny British outpost of Gibraltar in a meeting on Tuesday with Britain's ambassador to Spain, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Gibraltar had accused Spain of deliberately holding up cars entering the territory by searching every vehicle and creating delays of up to six hours during the last weekend in July.

Gibraltar argued that the heightened border checks were in retaliation over its decision to build a concrete artificial reef in surrounding waters, aimed at stopping alleged incursions by Spanish fishing boats around the territory which Madrid claims as its own.

Tiny Gibraltar, just 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 square miles) and home to about 30,000 people, overlooks the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

Tensions rose further over the weekend when Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo suggested that Madrid could introduce a 50-euro ($66) charge to cross the Gibraltar border in either direction.

The money raised from the new charge could be used to help Spanish fisherman who will suffer from Gibraltar's new reef, the minister said in an interview published in the Spanish newspaper ABC.

Spain's secretary of state for foreign affairs, Gonzalo de Benito, told Britain's ambassador, Gilles Paxman, at their meeting that border checks were needed since Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen area -- the passport-free zone of some mainland European countries with open borders.

"He explained that Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen area. It is therefore obliged to carry out border controls. They are irrevocable. They are necessary in an area where there is a lot of smuggling," the foreign ministry spokesman said.

De Benito also told the British diplomat that the Spanish government "would continue to take all necessary measures to defend Spanish interests", the spokesman added.

Britain has held Gibraltar since 1713 but Spain wants it returned and refuses to recognise British sovereignty over the waters off the land known as "the Rock".

The European Commission said Tuesday it would send a team of monitors to the Spain-Gibraltar border to ensure that the controls are applied "proportionately".

The mission however will not take place until September or October, European Commission spokesman Frederic Vincent said.

The Spanish government's delegate in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia which borders Gibraltar, Carmen Crespo, said the border checks were "proportionate" due to the sharp rise in cigarrete smuggling between Gibraltar and Spain.

The amount of cigarretes smuggled between the territory and Spain, where they are slapped with higher taxes, has soared by 213 percent between 2010 and 2012.

Spanish Prime Mariano Rajoy's conservative government "is open to permanent dialogue with Britain to resolve pending questions," she added.

Former Socialist foreign minister Trinidad Jimenez said it would be a "clumsy mistake" for the government to try to distract attention from a corruption scandal rocking the ruling Popular Party by stoking a row with Gibraltar.

"On various occasions we have seen how certain issues are used to distract attention from other issues," she said.


Source : Sapa-AFP /mjs
Date : 06 Aug 2013 22:00

 

[Nerfherder]

Bring out the Spanish Armada... oh wait.

 

[LazyLion]

UK warships head to Mediterranean as Gibraltar row heats up

British warships were due to set sail for the Mediterranean on Monday for a naval exercise that will see one vessel dock in Gibraltar, as tensions rise with Spain over the British-held territory.

The type 23 frigate HMS Westminster will leave Britain on Tuesday and is set to arrive in Gibraltar, at Spain's southern tip, within a week as part of what the defence ministry stressed was a "routine" and "long-planned" deployment.

Three other warships -- the flagship HMS Bulwark, helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious and frigate HMS Montrose -- and six supporting vessels were heading on Monday towards the Mediterranean as part of an exercise codenamed Cougar '13.

Madrid has agreed to allow HMS Illustrious to stop at a naval base in Rota in southern Spain as part of the operation, but Spanish media have described the plan for HMS Westminster to stop at Gibraltar as an intimidating move by Britain.

Britain and Spain are embroiled in an escalating diplomatic row over stringent car searches by Spanish guards at the Gibraltar border, causing tailbacks of several hours.

The government of the tiny peninsula has accused Madrid of acting in retaliation after Gibraltar built an artificial concrete reef which it says is aimed at stopping alleged incursions by Spanish fishing boats.

Writing in The Sun newspaper on Monday, Britain's Europe minister David Lidington said: "Britain and Spain matter to each other. We are Nato allies, key trading partners and millions of Brits travel to Spain every year.

"But our good friendship with Spain does not mean we will turn a blind eye when the people of Gibraltar are threatened or put under pressure."

The HMS Westminster and HMS Illustrious will set sail from the town of Portsmouth on the southern English coast, a defence ministry spokesman said. The flagship Bulwark and HMS Montrose will depart from the port of Plymouth.

The Cougar '13 deployment will allow the British navy to "hone its world class maritime skills thousands of miles from home through exercises with a number of key allies," the defence ministry said.

The ships will visit a number of Mediterranean ports, carrying out an exercise with the Albanian armed forces before heading through the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf for exercises with other British allies.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity in 1713 but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty. London says it will not do so against the wishes of the 30,000 Gibraltarians, who are staunchly pro-British.


Source : Sapa-AFP /pk
Date : 12 Aug 2013 11:16

 

[Garson007]

Just kick the UK out of the EU already.