Spain: "Our main objective is to recover Gibraltar"

UK/SPAIN/GIBRALTAR (Agencies)  Spain's central government said yesterday that it reiterates its differences about the 'territorial waters' with Britain every time it can "via the usual diplomatic channels." This appears in responses to various parliamentary questions set by PP Deputy  José Ignacio Landaluce, in which the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation point out that both Spain and the UK know 'perfectly well' what each of their positions are. In Spain's case, the country maintains its claim on the Rock's sovereignty, as well as its denouncement of the illegal occupation by Britain of the southern portion of the isthmus.>The Government states, too, that Spanish policy regarding the differences on the subject is that its 'principal objective' it to recover sovereignty over Gibraltar, and that this objective 'has been shared by all the Governments of Spain, without exception, and, naturally, of the present one.'

 

On April 29 a new incident occurred between the police forces of both sides of the frontier. A Guardia Civil patrol boat intercerpted an allegedly drug smuggling vessel in the waters that surround the Rock, the British sovereignty over which is not recognized by Spain. The vessel turned out to be carrying 100 kilos of hashish.

According to the Spanish version of the incident, several Gibraltarian boats pulled alongside, the crews of which"insulted and threatened" their Spanish counterparts.

Nine days later, Peter Caruana's Government accused the Spanish Navy of invading the waters it believes are under its control and that of the UK and ordering a merchantman to weigh anchors.