FCO summons Spanish Ambassador following Gibraltar incursion
3 Apr 2014 11:16 AM
The FCO summoned the Spanish Ambassador to the
UK to underline serious concern at the incursion into British Gibraltar
Territorial Waters.
Speaking after the summoning of His Excellency Federico
Trillo, the Minister for Europe, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP,
said:
I
am extremely concerned to hear of another incursion into British Gibraltar
Territorial Waters on 1 April by a Spanish state research vessel, which sought
to undertake survey activity. Not only were the actions of the survey vessel
unlawful, but it was accompanied by a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel whose
dangerous manoeuvring presented a significant safety concern on the
waters.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea, the waters around Gibraltar are indisputably British territorial
waters, under United Kingdom sovereignty, in which only the United Kingdom has
the right to exercise jurisdiction.
Her
Majesty’s Government takes a grave view of any attempt by Spain to exert
authority or control within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and considers
such incursions as a violation of our sovereignty. However, the legal fact of
the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial
Waters is not affected by such violations.
I
strongly condemn this provocative incursion and urge the Spanish government to
ensure that it is not repeated. Her Majesty’s Government will continue to
take whatever action we consider necessary to uphold British sovereignty and
the interests of Gibraltar, its people, its security and
economy.
Further information
This is the fourth time the Spanish Ambassador has been
publicly summoned in relation to Gibraltar since the current Spanish government
took office in December 2011. Read our previous statements:
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