Spain may seek UN intervention over Gibraltar dispute

[BDforever]

Spain will seek to take its dispute with the UK over Gibraltar to the United Nations, with the support of Argentina, according to reports in the Spanish media.

Spain’s minister of foreign affairs, José Garcia-Margallo, is expected to propose that both countries present a “united front” over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands at the UN, the Spanish newspaper El Pais has said.

Mr Garcia-Margallo will sound out his Argentinian counterpart Hector Timerman at a meeting in Buenos Aires next month as he prepares for a “180-degree turn in policy towards the colony”, the newspaper reported.

Such a move would be seen as an escalation in the diplomatic tensions surrounding the territory.

Argentina is on a two-year term as non-permanent member of the UN’s Security Council and could potentially use its position to include discussions about Gibraltar on the agenda in New York.

The country’s president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, used a meeting of the council this week to renew demands for talks over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Spain is also considering the possibility of raising the matter of Gibraltar at the UN’s General Assembly or the International Court of Justice at The Hague, diplomatic sources reportedly told El Pais.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “Our policy on Gibraltar has not changed and is consistent with our policy on other overseas territories.

“Self-determination matters more than territorial integrity.

“The people of Gibraltar have repeatedly and overwhelmingly expressed their wish to remain under British sovereignty.”

The warship HMS Westminster and two other vessels will visit Gibraltar later this month as tensions with Spain increase. The Ministry of Defence has stressed that the visit is a “long-planned” training deployment, but last week the Spanish president, Mariano Rajoy, said that “all necessary measures” would be taken to defend Spain’s interests.

The recent dispute escalated after the Gibraltan authorities sank concrete blocks on an artificial reef just off the coast, which Spain claims will destroy fishing in the area. Work on the reef began 40 years ago but the decision to add the blocks has created friction with the Spanish government, which claims it is tearing the nets of Spanish fishermen.

Madrid responded by beefing up border controls and suggesting that a €50 (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving the outpost through its fenced border with the mainland.

source: Spain may seek UN intervention over Gibraltar dispute - Europe - World - The Independent

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

LoLz. Nothing Spain can do in this fight without the support of Obama's cabinet.

Kerry is relatively soft on the UK though

 

[flamer84]

LoLz. Nothing Spain can do in this fight without the support of Obama's cabinet.

Kerry is relatively soft on the UK though

I think that Gibraltar belongs to Spain but the spanish are beeing hypocritical here.If Gibraltar belongs to them and is returned what about Ceuta and Melila?

 

[Al Bhatti]

What is the source of the current row?

Spain is objecting to the construction of an artificial reef on the northern end of the territory, which consists of a collection of sunken wrecks and concrete blocks designed to give marine wildlife an environment to breed and colonise, and boost tourism. Madrid says the reef will affect the catch of local Spanish fishermen. Gibraltar says one boat in particular has over-fished the area, and decided to enforce a 1991 law banning fishing to the letter.

How has Spain shown its anger?

Tension has flared several times over the past nine months. Gibraltarians said Spanish police motor boats have interfered with pleasure craft. A 10,000-strong petition was submitted calling on the Government to take a firmer line with Madrid. In February, a Spanish warship entered British water for 20 minutes where it was confronted by the Navy and asked to leave. At the end of July, residents and tourists had to endure three days of delays at the border as a result of increased vehicle searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain’s foreign minister has now threatened to impose an entry fee of 50 euros to cars entering from Gibraltar.

Haven’t we been here before?

The rock has been disputed by Spain ever since Britain captured it in 1704, but relations have rarely been this bad since the Second World War. Still, under Gen Franco’s dictatorship the frontier to the mainland was closed in 1969 for 16 years.

What do the Gibraltarians say?

The 30,000 locals say that Madrid is just trying to distract from its woeful economic problems. They are determined to remaining a British Overseas Territory. They may be bi-lingual, but in two non-binding votes, in 1967 and 2002, 98-99 per cent voted in favour of saying British.

Why is the territory so important to Britain and Spain?

Situated at the entrance to the Mediterranean, the limestone outcrop on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula has a prime strategic location and is home to a British naval base. It was a key point in the anti-submarine campaigns in both World Wars. They may be EU partners, but Britain is loathe to yield any ground, as it would set a bad precedent for other Overseas Territories, while Spain wants to reclaim land that belonged to the kingdom of Castile.

Gibraltar: Territory controls access to entire Mediterranean | GulfNews.com

----------------

Gibraltar: A timeline


Spain ceded the strategically located territory 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.

A timeline of recent relations between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar, which measures just 2.6 square miles:

September 18, 2006: Britain, Spain and Gibraltar sign several landmark agreements, allowing flights from Spain to Gibraltar Airport and ending a long-standing pensions dispute. The Cordoba Agreement set the seal on 20 months of talks aimed at casting off years of bitter quarrelling about the status of Gibraltar.

December 1: Gibraltar’s voters support a new constitution, modernising ties between the Rock and London and allowing greater local autonomy.

December 16: Passenger flights between Gibraltar and Spain recommence, ending an aerial “cold war” dating from a visit to the outcrop by the Queen in 1954.

July 21, 2009: Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos becomes the first Spanish minister to set foot in Gibraltar since it was captured by English troops in 1704.

February 1, 2012: Spain’s new conservative government, led by Mariano Rajoy, calls on the British authorities to agree to talks on Gibraltar’s sovereignty.

May 16: Spain’s Queen Sofia cancels a planned trip to London to attend the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebration lunch due to tensions with Britain over Gibraltar.

May 24: Spain warns that it will continue to defend its fishermen in the contested waters around Gibraltar following a clash between police boats from the two sides over fishing rights in the area.

August 17: Spain makes a formal complaint to Britain in the dispute over fishing off Gibraltar.

November 15: Britain summons the Spanish ambassador to London to complain about “serious incursions” in the waters off Gibraltar.

August 6, 2013: Spain defends its “irrevocable” right to carry out checks at its border with Gibraltar.

August 7: Prime Minister David Cameron warns Rajoy that escalating the tit-for-tat dispute risks damaging relations between their countries.

August 11: Spain is considering a pact with Argentina over the Falklands as tension with Britain escalates over Gibraltar.

Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo says he will travel to Buenos Aires to discuss a joint diplomatic offensive over the disputed territories.

Rock solid love for Britain in Gibraltar | GulfNews.com

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

I think that Gibraltar belongs to Spain but the spanish are beeing hypocritical here.If Gibraltar belongs to them and is returned what about Ceuta and Melila?

Here is the thing, either to claim them back all or nothing.

 

[Wholegrain]

@BDforever

Hong Kong was ceded and leased to Britain in two parts. Hong Kong island was ceded in perpetuity while the "New Territories" were leased for 99 years. However, the water supply for the island came from the mainland (which passed through the New Territories) and I think the sewage system is connected too.

So if Britain decided to keep Hong Kong island forever and just give the New Territories back as legally oblidged, China could legally throttle the water supply to the island and force the British to spend millions of dollars shipping water by plane and having a nightmare with their sewage and other water related issues.

Britian decided to give back the entire island in addition to the New Territories because of that.

If Spain can legally impose measures like massive tolls for land transport (lets say 100,000 Euro for each person and 50,000 Euro for luggage) and make usage of the waters around Gibraltar difficult then Britain might start listening to their demands.

 

[flamer84]

@Wholegrain....Spain can't do that,Gibraltar is EU teritory and you can't impose those kind of taxes within the EU.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

@Wholegrain....Spain can't do that,Gibraltar is EU teritory and you can't impose those kind of taxes within the EU.

Not to mention that Spain itself is a member of the EU. Therefore, it is a hard job for them.

 

[flamer84]

Not to mention that Spain itself is a member of the EU. Therefore, it is a hard job for them.

Yep,free circulation of merchandise between EU territories,free circulation of european citizens.Spain can't invent restrictions and taxes from the top of her head.Ind the end this whole fuss is for nothing,if the brits want to keep Gibraltar,and they do,they'll keep it.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Yep,free circulation of merchandise between EU territories,free circulation of european citizens.Spain can't invent restrictions and taxes from the top of her head.Ind the end this whole fuss is for nothing,if the brits want to keep Gibraltar,and they do,they'll keep it.

I don't think the UK will go soft on Spain either ...

 

[flamer84]

I don't think the UK will go soft on Spain either ...

There is one chance,if the brits have their promised 2017 referendum on EU exit and they vote out.Than we might have a decent show on our hands.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

There is one chance,if the brits have their promised 2017 referendum on EU exit and they vote out.Than we might have a decent show on our hands.

I don't think the UK will even remain till 2017 they're sick and tired from the EU

 

[Tshering22]

I don't think the UK will go soft on Spain either ...

Do you think that they'll fight over it?

IMO they'll use their P5 muscle in some way or the other.

But can you make out why this issue has suddenly cropped up?

I don't think the UK will even remain till 2017 they're sick and tired from the EU

Next year Scotland is voting a referendum for independence from UK.

That leaves England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The country itself is in jeopardy.

On top of that EU issue is a serious problem.

 

[Tshering22]

August 11: Spain is considering a pact with Argentina over the Falklands as tension with Britain escalates over Gibraltar.

 

[vostok]

The Anglo-Saxons - masters of Europe. It is ridiculous when you read such news. In any case, even if the plebiscite will be held - the result is known in advance - the status quo will be maintained.