MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gibraltar praises UK and Spain for quick action in de-escalating situation
Long queues at the border and threats of further Spanish measures escalated the dispute Gibraltar Government House issued a statement following Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and PM David Cameron exchange and later intervention of foreign ministers Garcia-Margallo and William Hague to find a way to de-escalate the situation by reducing measures at the Gib/Spain border.
“On a day when queues of up to 3 hours have been experienced coming into Gibraltar, intense diplomatic activity has been conducted at the highest level.
Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague have both spoken to their opposite numbers in uncompromising terms to demand an end to the disproportionate action and threats of action by the Spanish authorities.”
The Governor Sir Adrian Johns added: “HMGoG and HMG have been working very closely together and I welcome the interventions by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary and their unwavering support for Gibraltar at this time of heightened tension.
I also welcome the fact that Prime Minister Rajoy has agreed that a way needs to be found to de-escalate the situation and has committed to reducing measures at the border. I am sure that people on both sides of the frontier look forward to this commitment taking effect and to their right of freedom of movement being fully respected”.
The Governor also said: “The Foreign Secretary and his opposite number agreed on the need for dialogue. In line with its longstanding policy, the UK has made clear once again that it stands firm in its commitment to a return to the trilateral forum for dialogue and will not enter into bilateral dialogue on any issue of sovereignty or in respect of matters in the constitutional competence of Gibraltar.”
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Read all commentsWell done Cameron, Hague and indeed Rajoy though he should proceed to dismiss Garcia-Meladdo for the rhetoric and the disgraceful actions on the boarder. No where in the EU should such actions be allowed to endure. The spanish actions border on hypocrisy having sunk many a reef to curtail their belligerent fishermen activities, Gibraltar in its own territorial waters has followed the Spanish lead and been subjected to poisonous Garcia-meladdo rhetoric. Glad the uk only responds to actions and not rhetoric, Keep Calm Gibraltar and carry on!
Aug 09th, 2013 - 05:00 am 0The need to de-escalate is real.
Aug 09th, 2013 - 05:36 am 0Because when we slap a €50 supplement on flights to and from spain and our tourist €billions go to greece instead it will bankrupt spain.
And then there's the TRUTH. Fortunately, the statement was issued by the hopeful Governor and not by Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar. Who have considerable experience of Spanish lies. I wonder why it is that latinos lie continuously and are allowed to get away with it? Spain is a nearby example of latino duplicity. We should return to the old-style effective methods. For instance, the current King of Spain has three offspring. These should be taken as hostages. Every time that Spain is naughty, the offspring should lose something. A hand, a foot, an arm, a leg, a head.
Aug 09th, 2013 - 07:15 am 0But, keeping up to date, we can see that Spain has no intention of being reasonable. So, when the Royal Navy arrives, let it offer a simple option. Spanish vessels of any description to stay clear of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters for the next year or the Navy will return and shell Algeciras. Perhaps the Navy could fire a few shells to provide an example. Perhaps 4 shells from each vessel. And provide the information that the same guns can fire 30 shells per minute. Perhaps eight shells will ramp up to 60 shells per minute. Just think of the fun. A new wilderness courtesy of the Royal Navy. A real tourist attraction. “This is where Algeciras used to be”!
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