MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First Spanish minister visit to Gibraltar in 300 years

Spain’s Miguel Angel Moratinos in Gibraltar to talk about cooperation

Spain's foreign minister arrived Tuesday in Gibraltar for talks with his United Kingdom counterpart - the first visit by a Spanish minister for 300 years. Miguel Angel Moratinos and David Miliband will seek greater maritime, financial and judicial co-operation.

The disputed territory has been a great source of tension between the nations since Britain captured it in 1704.

The UK insists it will not hand over Gibraltar against residents' wishes despite Spanish sovereignty claims.

Mr Moratinos crossed the border at lunchtime on Tuesday ahead of the talks, which include Gibraltar's chief minister Peter Caruana.

The meeting - part of the “tripartite forum” between the three countries - deliberately avoids the issue of sovereignty, focusing instead on issues of concern to the 30,000 Gibraltarians.

The talks are going ahead despite a new row over Gibraltar's territorial waters.

The Gibraltar government opposed a reported move by Spain to use a European Commission environmental directive to officially denote the surrounding seas as Spanish.

The Self-determination for Gibraltar group has called on Gibraltarians to fly union jacks during the Spanish minister's visit.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 but has long said it should return to Spanish sovereignty. The border between Spain and Gibraltar was closed by Spanish dictator General Franco in 1969 and did not fully reopen until 1985.