MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Spain congratulates Hammond and calls for dialogue on “Gibraltar and surrounding area”
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo congratulated Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on his recent appointment and insisted that Spain’s action in Gibraltar is simply to seek compliance with legal obligations, but nevertheless called for dialogue. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesThe more the Spanish do this, the more likely it is that QE aircraft carrier has a first port of call.
Jul 24th, 2014 - 06:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Secondly, its about time Gibraltar sought its rightful 12 mile waters to the west, not just 3. The Spanish also need to remember, Spain is the No3 destination for Brits, it would be a shame to levy a tax on travel to that country, and how that would affect their economy. Not being nasty, its just the same as they threatened to do to people travelling to Gibraltar. Its time they grew up
They should apply International Law to themselves and leave Gibraltar well alone. Hypocrites!
Jul 24th, 2014 - 10:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0For:1 Vulcanbomber (#)
Jul 24th, 2014 - 11:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Re: “The more the Spanish do this, the more likely it is that QE aircraft carrier has a first port of call.
Secondly, its about time Gibraltar sought its rightful 12 mile waters to the west, not just 3. The Spanish also need to remember, Spain is the No3 destination for Brits, it would be a shame to levy a tax on travel to that country, and how that would affect their economy. Not being nasty, its just the same as they threatened to do to people travelling to Gibraltar. Its time they grew up.”
I don’t think that under EU rules, it would be legal to subject those travelling to Spain, to a UK tax and I certainly can’t envisage that those Britons obliged to pay such a levy, ever voting again for politicians responsible for its imposition!
The only thing one could do to hinder travel air/sea travel to Spain would be to take a leaf out of the Spaniards’ own book and to ‘expediently reverse engineer’ the rules regulating entry to / exit from the UK, thus making it necessary that travellers present themselves at the air/sea port, some 10 or 12 hours before the time of departure. But I don’t need delineate the detailed of effects of such a move –not only on the public but on the air/sea lines, police, emigration services, et cetera too. Nor do I need to speculate on the irate reaction of all the adversely affected parties…
So once again, we are forced to look straight into REALITY’s ugly face, for the so-called sovereign interests of Britain, Spain and those of virtually every other country on the face of the earth, are SECONDARY to the desires of International Big Banking / Business.
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
Gollum lying again I see.
Jul 24th, 2014 - 12:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Spain respects International Law: not towards Gib it doesn't.
Perhaps he's Santander's mole in the government.
What do you say Jim lad, apart from “pieces of eight, pieces of eight”, arkkk”?
It would be interesting to learn how many expatriate Spaniards there are now working and seeking work in the UK due to the exceptionally sad state of the Spanish economy.
Jul 24th, 2014 - 02:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It seems to me that everywhere one hears Iberian Spanish here in the UK.
@5 quite literally thousands here in London. At least tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands?
Jul 24th, 2014 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@1. I understand the thinking behind a tax on those leaving the UK for spain, but who would pay it? For the most part the people of Britain. We need something else. Knowing the spanish propensity for smuggling, let's start with 100% examination of all spaniards and their baggage, and commercial goods, arriving from spain. Proportionate, you see.
Jul 24th, 2014 - 05:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@2. I agree. Twelve miles to the east and south. But, one way or another, we need an active deterrent. Armed helicopters under the control of the Government of Gibraltar. What might they be armed with? Mini guns. One or two each side. Authorised to open fire on any incursion. But there would need to be day and night patrols. Loudspeakers. Searchlights. A nice big official public announcement. ”As from (date) British Gibraltar Territorial Waters will be patrolled, day and night, by armed helicopters. They are authorised to open fire on any incursions. If circumstances permit, there will be ONE warning“. It could be a new ”show” for Gibraltarians. Watching illegal fishing boats being cut in half, seeing Guardia Civil thugs diving over the side. It's an unfortunate fact of life. If Gibraltar wants to be a nation, it MUST learn to defend itself!
Spain should receive nothing,
Jul 24th, 2014 - 06:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0and Gibraltar should not talk to them,
its rather unfair to insult , abuse , intimidate , then say, look lets be friends now, and forget the past,
oh and by the way-you belong to us now.???????
5 gordo1 (#)
Jul 24th, 2014 - 07:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: “It would be interesting to learn how many expatriate Spaniards there are now working and seeking work in the UK due to the exceptionally sad state of the Spanish economy.
It seems to me that everywhere one hears Iberian Spanish here in the UK.
6 ilsen
Re: “@5 quite literally thousands here in London. At least tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands?”
An official statement I heard not too long ago reckoned that – during a recent 24 months’ period (I can’t remember the exact dates)– some 70.000 young Spaniards emigrated to the UK, and of course, many other job-seeking young Spaniards will have moved to other EU countries, especially to Germany and to her similarly highly industrialized Northern European neighbours. But, So What? Is it not also said that after Paris, London is home to more French nationals than any other city in the world? Furthermore, I believe that more than a million Britons live in Spain, most of whom are pensioners who by nature of their advancing years’, are a considerable burden on this country’s NHS –because the UK pays Spain only a relative pittance for their care. I’m not sure but I think that the amount Britain pays to Spain is based on a EU rate taken from AVERAGE healthcare costs. Of course, the young foreign workers in Britain not only CONTRIBUTE to our NHS but thanks to their youth, require proportionally LESS health care. So if all Spain’s wrinkly British expats were summarily sent back home, the UK’s NHS would probably sink without trace.
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
@ 9 JimHandley
Jul 24th, 2014 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Calm down dear!
The Bankers are the baddies, the ExPat retired put a financial burden on Spain!
FFS change the record man: you have NO proof to back up what you claim. The young Spaniards in the UK may well be on the black and keeping all the money for themselves like most of the other immigrants do. They may even be claiming benefits, WTF knows, I don't and neither will you.
Don't forget the contribution that the UK makes to the EU and the money that Spain DRAWS from the EU before you start your ramblings.
If you hate the UK that much which you seem to, send back your UK Passport and keep a Spanish one.
Re: “FFS change the record man: you have NO proof to back up what you claim. The young Spaniards in the UK may well be on the black and keeping all the money for themselves like most of the other immigrants do. They may even be claiming benefits, WTF knows, I don't and neither will you…
Jul 24th, 2014 - 10:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You may drool drivel all the rascist bile you wish, but your rubbish rhetoric is no more than utterly unsubstantiated rumour and innuendo, used by precisely the “Bankers’ class” to fool the redtop reading, chattering classes.
For many years’, Spain has been a NET CONTRIBUTOR to the EU’s coffers. And Britain is STILL a long-term recipient of large rebates from Brussels, SUPPOSEDLY for the ‘marginal’ farming areas in certain parts of the UK Scandalously, not ALL EU agriculture subsidies go to hard up Hill Farmers. Have a look here:
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/revealed-how-we-pay-our-richest-landowners-millions-subsidies
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/revealed-how-we-pay-our-richest-landowners-millions-subsidies
I’m not a champion of the EU and I’m almost convinced that –on balance– Britain would almost certainly improve its prospects by leaving…
Re: “If you hate the UK that much which you seem to, send back your UK Passport and keep a Spanish one.”
About my loyalty to my place of birth –perhaps I’ve already proved my allegiance to Crown and Country, for as a young man I voluntarily bore arms and fought in a war, for Britain. Since then I’ve received almost nothing in return, by the way. Now, I feel I’ve EARNED the right to criticize reasonably, the flaws I find in our so-called democracy and of course, to live where the fcuk I wish without seeking permission from any ol’ jumped-up little wenkar.
I WONDER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR BRITAIN? Other than reel out reams of risible rubbish, of course!
Jim, in Madrid.
@9
Jul 25th, 2014 - 12:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0“So if all Spain’s wrinkly British expats were summarily sent back home, the UK’s NHS would probably sink without trace.”
Not including yourself I presume?
RE: ChrisR
“The young Spaniards in the UK may well be on the black and keeping all the money for themselves like most of the other immigrants do. They may even be claiming benefits, WTF knows, I don't and neither will you.”
This is not racist, it is a socio-economic comment, and does bear some consideration. He states he doesn't know and NOR do you.
IMO:
Not all immigrants work on the 'black', but many do. Most work. Many claim benefits. Most a combination. Almost all send some money home. Thus the British Economic Engine helps power Spain in this and many other ways.
As for;
“I WONDER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR BRITAIN? ”
This is utterly subjective and just ranting. Thank you for serving in the Armed Forces, seriously (!), but it doesn't make you better than anyone else who has contributed to the economy, arts or sciences. Nor does it give you a more authoritive voice.
I will be happy to send a taxi to Gatwick to pick you up when you start missing the NHS/need a Care Home.
all the best
ilsen
in London (at the moment! so hurry!)
I like the Spanish that have come to the UK to work, they work hard and don't jabber on nonsense about Gibraltar all the time. Whether that is because they know which side their bread is buttered on or because they have no strong feeling on the issue I don't know.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 09:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Most of the Spanish work for legitimate businesses so presumably will be paying tax PAYE.
As for the elderly British ex pays in Spain they are not taking up Spanish jobs if they have retired and the younger ones often come to invest in or set up their own businesses. The retirees also bring their pension incomes and buy goods and services boosting the Spanish economy and providing a source of foreign exchange income for the country.
For: 13 RICO.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 10:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good points and well taken. Cheers!
12 ilsen.
For the fellow with the mystic, Nordic, planetary traveller’s nom de plume
(cue majestic Wagnerian-style music –producer’s choice)
Re:
>
Why not?. I’m nobody special. Nevertheless, I AM still entitled to express my opinions and sign them with my NAME, rather than use a cowardly PSEUDONYM.
In fact, I’d like to return to the UK but to do so at 82 years of age would be rather late in the, what? –not to mention the absolute bore of hiring so many porters to move all one’s kit, ol’ boy!
Re: your reference to ChrisR’s remark, “He states he doesn't know and NOR do you.
For goodness sake!, if neither you, he, I nor NOBODY friggin’ knows what really going on with Spanish immigration to the UK, why are both you and he making such sweeping ASSERTIONS based on idle gossip?
I don’t reckon the rest of your contrived comments merit a considered reply, so I shan’t bother.
Don’t some of you people realize how pitifully SILLY you are and have you absolutely no sense of self-ridicule?
In your case Ilsen, the reference to a comic cuts character is exquisitely appropriate…
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
@14 - although I disagree with your retort to Ilsen and others, your use of the English language in the reply has to be commended.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0It was a thoroughly entertaining read!
Jolly, in Perth (yes my parents really did name me Jolly Good Fun)
Umm...
Jul 25th, 2014 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0what reference?
And what is a 'comic cut character'?
Haven't got the foggiest as to what you're on about.
all the best!
The Royal Marines will be marching through Gib has part of their 350th anniversary.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 06:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If you Spaniards want to know what those boys can do? Ask those assholes that kicked you out of of South America.
Be careful about what you ask for?
'Not sure about success in legal challenge of Gibraltar's waters...' Spanish Foreign Minister Margallo quoted by MercoPress 13 Dec 2013.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chuckle...Chuckle
Ya don't think this is Armada
Jul 25th, 2014 - 07:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0mark II only this time, on foot..lol
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/gibraltar/10991612/EU-dismisses-Spanish-claims-over-Gibraltar-reef.html
Jul 25th, 2014 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh dear S pain
*17 The Brit Marines will be marching through Gibraltar.Are these the same marines that tried to conquer Spanish Colombia in THE BATTLE OF CARTAGENA DE LAS INDIAS with a navy force of over 100 ships against 6 ships on the Spanish side??Are these the 30.000 British marines that fought against 4.000 Spanish forces in this battle? Are these the British Marines that were destroyed by the Spanisn Commander? Are these the 11.000 British marines who were killed against the 800 dead soldiers on the Spanish side? Are these the marines who sailed on the 6 Royal Navy ships and 17 Royal Ships that were heavily damaged by the Spaniards? well...you better bring something better this time..don´t you think???
Jul 25th, 2014 - 09:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ 21 aussietwatee
Jul 25th, 2014 - 09:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 01741!
You are having a laf!
A pack of boy scouts could beat Spain at the moment: all the young men have gone to the UK (so I am informed).
Oh, I forgot. Better make that TWO packs of scouts, you have Jim Handley from Madrid.
or arethese the British marines that needed the ASSISTANCE of the Dutch Marines to capture Gibraltar...not a very good military history of The British Marines against the Spaniards. The Spanish Marines was the FIRST MARINE CORPS established in the world (1537), Portuguese (1610) FRance (1622) a lot of history behind these Marine Corps way in front before The British Marines came along in 1622.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 10:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 015 JollyGoodFun.
Jul 25th, 2014 - 11:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: “@14 - although I disagree with your retort to Ilsen and others, your use of the English language in the reply has to be commended.
It was a thoroughly entertaining read!”
Thanks for those few kind words… It a pity you ain’t a commissioning editor for a big-time Media organization ‘cos maybe you could have offered me a lucrative assignment…
Re “Jolly, in Perth (yes my parents really did name me Jolly Good Fun)”
As I young man, I took a job based in Nigeria and my work meant I had to travel extensively throughout W. Africa. In those parts, indigenous parents would commonly baptise their offspring with such optimistic names –often translated into English from the tribal vernacular– perhaps in the hope that the child would develop the traits expressed in its forename as it grew into adulthood. A notable example of such a given name is that of the current President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan (although he ain’t having much at the moment). Do kindly let me know whether I should address you as Ms or Mr?
Re: other recent comments above, some of which which contain many half-truths and even downright lies…
Who was the fellow who so perceptively remarked, “Patriotism is the is a scoundrel’s last refuge”???
I’m afraid that Aussiemoonshine’s allegations about the battle Cartegena de las Indias –although wildly exaggerated in favour of the indubitable valour displayed by its Spanish participants– are based on historical fact (spoken by one who long ago, as a soldier, used to teach ‘special tactics’ to members of the H.M.R.M.)
For: 16 ilsen
Re: “Umm... what reference?” Look it up, lad…
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
Hmmm. . So Comic Cuts disappeared in 1953, along with most of your prejudices.
Jul 26th, 2014 - 03:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0Nice.
here's one for you. Just a word.
Obsolete.
Look it up Jim.
you'll find it under Handley (rtd.)
all the best ol' boy!
25 ilsen (#)
Jul 26th, 2014 - 09:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0Re: “Hmmm. So Comic Cuts disappeared in 1953, along with most of your prejudices.”
I didn’t mean LITERALLY, you muggings. Dig deeper. Patience is a virtue. Furthermore, I’m tired of trying to illuminate KNOWITALL ingrates!
Re: “here's one for you. Just a word.
Obsolete. Look it up Jim.
you'll find it under Handley (rtd.)”
If I’m already obsolete (and presumably ineffective) then so are the centuries ‘old history of military action and the time-honoured treaties et cetera, relating to Britain’s acquisition of its present Overseas Territories. So why do so many miserably uniformed people write so much wretched, emotional rubbish on these pages about Gib. and the Falklands –and when their Neanderthal notions are challenged by objective fact– resort to gratuitous, personal insults? Such infantile antics must give our nonpartisan foreign readers a terrible impression of certain races, especially the Argentineans the British and the Spaniards; and surely tend to make the impartial observer think, “These people are all fools –a plague on both their houses!”.
For: 22 ChrisR
Many years’ ago, this ol’ Jim, had a ‘Road to Damascus’ revelation, in a which secular seraph in the form of an elderly Buddhist monk in Hong Kong, helped him understand that nearly all our temporal problems are of our own making and will NEVER be solved by violent actions!!! So you won’t even need deploy just one tiny lass in a Brownies’ uniform to make me surrender –let alone an entire, fearsome, troop of Boy Scouts. Thus, you may rest assured that the impressive ranks of your formidable infantry won’t be unnecessarily depleted.
Jim, in Madrid.
@ 26 JimHandley
Jul 26th, 2014 - 12:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You did notice that I elevated you to a pack of scouts on your own though!
:o)
*17 or are these the marines that got lost during military maneuvers in Gibraltar and landed on Spanish soil instead of GIB SOIL??? maybe somebody should sell them a GPS ??!!
Jul 26th, 2014 - 12:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0*24 exaggerated?? You obviously know NOTHING of Military history and you claim you gave out courses. LOOK IT UP ON WIKIPEDIA!!! AND LEARN SOMETHING of the most disastrous military defeats GREATER than the Spanish Armada.....(Even the KIng declared that such disastrous defeat had to be kept secret)
www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/19/gibraltar,world.
if the web does not open.GOOGLE: tell it to the marines....we´ve invaded the wrong country (the guardian)
Haha!
Jul 26th, 2014 - 01:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What larks!
Calm down dear. Tis only t'interweb!
If they are the same marines, wouldn't they be hundred's of years old by now..
Jul 26th, 2014 - 06:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For Aussiemoonshine 28.
Jul 26th, 2014 - 07:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: Siege of Cartegena.
The Guardian link you sent isn’t working. However, even it were, I don’t it would make me change my mind for most of the huge number of deaths in the battle were attributable to Yellow Fever, et cetera and not to enemy action. The British were certainly defeated by rather more by Mother Nature, than by Spanish military genius and valour.
A similar thing happened to ‘La Gran Amarda’ –the foul windy British weather did much to scatter the huge, cumbersome Spanish ships and set many onto the inhospitable rocky coasts.
Incidentally, did you know that during all its WWII actions in the Far East, the US Armed forces lost more men to tropical disease to Japanese military action?
Anyway, I’ll forgive your little errors ‘cos you probably learned your history during Franco’s time, when, as I PERSONALLY RECALL, that particular subject was especially carefully censured.
By the way I didn’t claim to have taught History to H.M.R.M. –I don’t have the academic qualifications. I’m afraid my lessons concerned a strictly mundane and utilitarian matter, designed shall we say, to have an immediate and irreversible effect!
Jim, in Madrid.
@21
Aug 01st, 2014 - 07:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Are these the same marines that tried to conquer Spanish Colombia in THE BATTLE OF CARTAGENA DE LAS INDIAS with a navy force of over 100 ships against 6 ships on the Spanish side??Are these the 30.000 British marines that fought against 4.000 Spanish forces in this battle? Are these the British Marines that were destroyed by the Spanisn Commander? Are these the 11.000 British marines who were killed against the 800 dead soldiers on the Spanish side? Are these the marines who sailed on the 6 Royal Navy ships and 17 Royal Ships that were heavily damaged by the Spaniard”
No, the Bootnecks that Spain will wave massive white flags to, before finding the nearest toilet to avoid a mass and involuntary soiling of Spanish underpants are not like the above RM's, who are dead.
We don't need to dig them up-we have LIVE Royal Marines with experience of fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The current Bootnecks are more likely to be like the RMs that battered Argentine troops on Mt Harriet and Two Sisters, and also the small group of Marines that gave Top Malo House a good pasting. Also, when your mates illegally invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, it took several 100 to persuade Sir Rex Hunt to ask 80 bootnecks to surrender-note the Bootnecks would have carried on fighting if not ordered to surrender by the Governor. The Royal Marines wanted to take Sir Rex Hunt into the camp and continue to fight a guerrilla war but were refused. Incidentally, when your muppet friends landed on South Georgia, the outnumbered Royal Marines put an Argentine corvette out of action with an anti tank rocket and shot the sh1t out of an Argentine Puma. If there were more than about 20 Marines, the Argentines would never have taken South Georgia.
You have got a serious problem if your Spanish soldiers try taking on the Bootnecks. The Spanish will need lots of toilet paper.
Where have the great Spanish forces fought recently (apart from against defenceless and drugged bulls)?
For: 32 Pete Bog.
Aug 01st, 2014 - 11:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: “Are these the same marines that tried to conquer Spanish Colombia in THE BATTLE OF CARTAGENA DE LAS INDIAS with a navy force of over 100 ships against 6 ships on the Spanish side??” et cetera
Please tell the idiotic, crowing, name-calling Aussiemoonshine this:
Without wishing to demean the valour shown by the Spanish defenders of CARTAGENA DE LAS INDIAS, you should remember that the members of British invading force were cooped-up in relatively small ships. Thus, the mosquito borne Yellow Fever virus swept through the British ranks, like a knife through soft butter.
Conversely, the land-based Spaniards had the advantage of being able to isolate medically, any infected person from the public in general.
The British were defeated not by the Spaniards, per se, but by a tropical disease.
If Aussiemoonshine weren’t so ignorant of Spain’s history (he was probably educated free by the state system in Oz anyway –for which he shows absolutely no gratitude) he could have scored a REAL point by mentioning the cannon that knocked-off Nelson’s arm, at the battle of Tenerife (a true defeat of the Britons by the Spaniards) The said cannon, called The Tiger (El Tigre) is still on display in Tenerife.
Also, do tell this presumably hybrid Anglo-Hispanic duffer that rather like making an omelette, “In order to WIN a WAR, one has to lose the odd battle!”
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid
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