MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Rajoy and Cameron meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Russia
Meanwhile Chief Minister accused Madrid of setting a “pre-war environment” While Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy held a one-to-one meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron on the G20 Summit sidelines in Russia to discuss the Gibraltar sovereignty dispute, officials of the British overseas territory accused Madrid of setting a “pre-war environment.”
“Hate and animosity towards the people of Gibraltar has been created. Cars have been burnt in the countryside, insults are shouted at Gibraltarians when they visit Spain and that prompts an almost pre-war environment created by the government,” top Gibraltar Minister Fabián Picardo told media.
Tensions rose earlier this year when 70 3-ton concrete blocks were dropped in the bay of Gibraltar to form an artificial reef prompting anger amid Spanish fishermen who accused Gibraltar’s authorities of blocking their access to the waters.
The blocks were originally dumped to ensure the compliance with environmental rules pertaining to fisheries conservation in the Bay of Gibraltar.
Rajoy’s administration ramped up border checks with the contested territory and vowed to sue Gibraltar officials for environmental damage while PM David Cameron accused Madrid of “politically motivated and disproportionate” measures.
London rules the contested territory located in the Southern part of the Iberian Peninsula since the 1713 Utrecht Treaty confirmed Gibraltar as a British overseas territory.
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Read all commentsNo new information here. One minute Spain is making threats, the next minute they are fearful of breakdown in relations with the UK. The UK is just watching and waiting to see what they do.
Sep 07th, 2013 - 02:22 am 0Once again we still only have rhetoric from Spain and the UK won't act in rhetoric.
Cameron/Picardo should be speaking with a co-ordinated voice.
Sep 07th, 2013 - 07:02 am 0Perhaps saying that any incursion or armed attack on the Rock or its people would be met with the temporary bomblet peppering of coastal airfield runways (with suitable warning beforehand, of course).
After all, we don't want to physically hurt people
... just cripple the tourist industry.
How can there be a discussion about a “sovereignty dispute”? The UK does NOT discuss the sovereignty of Gibraltar without the permission of Gibraltar. In reality, Rajoy is in a corner. Margallo is like tinboy. Big mouth, no brain. Rajoy has realised that neither Britain nor Gibraltar will back down. He has to find a way out without losing too much face. Shouldn't be much of a problem when you're two-faced to start with!
Sep 07th, 2013 - 08:14 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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