UK asked Spain to stop patrols in Gibraltar waters

UK asked Spain to stop patrols in Gibraltar waters
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By m.p. - Nov 22, 2009 - 2:31 PM
A note from the British Embassy in September described Civil Guard incursions as a violation of British sovereignty

British soldiers on Gibraltar - EFE archive

It’s been revealed by EFE this Sunday, that, following two incidents this September, the UK asked Spain to stop Civil Guard ‘incursions’ into waters considered to belong to Gibraltar, considering them as a violation of British sovereignty. The incidents concerned were on 4th and 7th September, when Civil Guard patrol boats seen within the Rock’s 3 mile perimeter were asked to depart after the Spanish officers reportedly failed to justify their presence with a valid explanation.

The British Embassy in Madrid said in a note sent to Spain’s Foreign Ministry on the 18th of that month that such incursions are a cause for deep concern and, as a violation of British sovereignty over the waters, are unacceptable. As EFE quotes, the Embassy referred to the incidents as going against the ‘positive spirit of cooperation’ shown by the historic visit to the Rock of Spain’s Foreign Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, on 21st July as part of the three-way talks on Gibraltar.

The Foreign Ministry’s response was that, under the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain considers the waters inside the three-mile perimeter to be Spanish, except for those inside the Port.

The news of the UK’s request comes amid the row which has erupted over an incident last Tuesday when the Royal Navy used a buoy in the Spanish colours for target practice off the Gibraltar coast, but outside the perimeter. The UK has apologised for what the British Ambassador, Giles Paxman, said was an error of judgement and insensitive for using a buoy marked in red in yellow but which, he said, did not intentionally carry the Spanish colours.

The colours are understood to represent the Flag No. 1 used by NATO.

The Ambassador promised a full investigation of the incident after a formal protest from Spain.

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