UK Summons Spanish Ambassador over Gibraltar 'Incursions'
Britain summoned the Spanish ambassador to London on Thursday to complain about "serious incursions" in the waters off the British Mediterranean enclave of Gibraltar, officials said.
Junior foreign minister David Lidington said recent attempts by Spanish officials to exercise jurisdiction in Gibraltar's territorial waters were "provocative" and risked damaging ties between Gibraltar and Madrid.
London and Madrid have already been embroiled in testy exchanges this year over fishing rights around 'the Rock', which has been held by Britain since 1713.
Lidington said ambassador Federico Trillo had been summoned for talks with Simon Fraser, the top civil servant in the Foreign Office, after two "serious incursions" on Tuesday.
A large Spanish naval ship conducted a prominent patrol in Gibraltar territorial waters lasting several hours. Later the same day, a Spanish customs vessel tried to apprehend a Gibraltarian civilian boat carrying four people, prompting the Royal Gibraltar Police to intervene, he said.
"I condemn these provocative incursions and urge the Spanish government to ensure that they are not repeated," Lidington said.
"We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, as well as Gibraltar and Britain, to avoid any incident that may damage the prospects of developing a harmonious and collaborative relationship between Gibraltar and Spain.
"It is also in all parties' interests to avoid incidents which could put at risk the safety of those operating in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
"We remain confident of UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and fully committed to protecting the interests of the people of Gibraltar and their wish to remain under British sovereignty."
Despite ceding Gibraltar to Britain 300 years ago, Madrid has long argued it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.
London has said it will not give up control as long as Gibraltarians want to remain part of Britain.
In Gibraltar, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told parliament he welcomed the British diplomatic response.
Parliament was united in calling for Britain "to be able to deploy in Gibraltar as soon as possible the assets necessary to ensure the defense of these waters against the armed vessels and agents of the Spanish," he said.
Picardo said the Rock's police force was acquiring two larger vessels, one of which would be delivered soon. "Our police will therefore finally have the resources to be able to deal with such acts of criminality as well as any other," he added.
Spain's foreign ministry had no immediate comment.
Source: Agence France Presse
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