MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK to press Spain to honor law enforcement cooperation in Gibraltar waters
MP Rosindell asked what steps Defence is taking to protect Gibraltar against further armed incursions into Gibraltarian waters by Spanish authorities. 
Minister Dunne replied: “The Government takes its responsibility for protecting the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters very seriously.” British Government will continue to press Spain to honor the agreement to step up law enforcement cooperation in Gibraltar waters, Philip Dunne Minister of State for Defence has said. Mr Dunne was responding to a written question in the House of Commons from Tory MP Andrew Rosindell.
Mr Rosindell asked what steps the Ministry of Defence is taking to protect Gibraltar against further armed incursions into Gibraltarian waters by Spanish authorities.
Mr Dunne replied: “The Government takes its responsibility for protecting the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters very seriously.”
“The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron is at the forefront of our response to Spanish incursions, and will continue to challenge all unlawful actions by Spanish state vessels.”
The Minister added: “The Spanish Government has reassured us that safety of lives at sea is a top priority for all concerned and that their law enforcement agencies will operate with respect for this principle.”
“The Spanish Government has also agreed to our proposal to step up law enforcement cooperation. The Government will continue to press them to honour this agreement,” Mr Dunne said.
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Read all commentsThe Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron doesn't have the capability to oppose illegal spanish incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).
Sep 27th, 2015 - 02:25 pm 0Let's take this step by step. Spain relies on the Treaty of Utrecht 1713. The treaty doesn't mention territorial waters. That's fine because there was no such thing, in 1713, as territorial waters. It's useful to note that the treaty doesn't mention spanish territorial waters either. Go to territorial waters defined as those within cannonshot. But then, as from 1964, the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone defined territorial waters as a right of every coastal state. How did spain get territorial waters but Gibraltar didn't? The truth is that spain lies.
The problem is capability. The Gibraltar Squadron has two 16 m (52 ft 6 in) Patrol launches—HMS Scimitar and her sister ship HMS Sabre—and three Pacific 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boats, manned by a team of 22 people. Imagine if there were also three Type 23 frigates. All fully-armed and ready to open fire. Swapping around between the west side, the east side and Europa Point. Regular live fire drills.
The UK must remember its history and its responsibilities.
Illegal spanish incursion? One radio warning. One warning shot. Then fire for effect.
Spain is simply trying to bully a small nation
Sep 27th, 2015 - 04:42 pm 0#3
Sep 27th, 2015 - 06:01 pm 0Asking a Hispanic country to honour an agreement ? Somewhat naive I think !
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