Gibraltar - My Rock Documentary

Brexit Lunacy: Michael Howard Threatens War with Spain over Gibraltar

EU's Brexit Stance on Gibraltar - Fabian Picardo Iinterview

EU's Brexit stance on Gibraltar constitutes "shameful, unfavourable treatment" of enthusiastic EU supporters says Fabian Picardo.

Mariano Rajoy: 'Gibraltar Is an Anachronism and the Last Colony' in Europe

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, has taken his complaints over Gibraltar to the United Nations, calling the territory an "anachronism".


Mr Rajoy's speech, delivered in New York on Tuesday night, was scripted to refer to Gibraltar as "a colonial anachronism." But, perhaps mindful of the anger the phrase would cause, he delivered a more nuanced speech and omitted the word "colonial."

He did, however, reiterate Spain's claim to the territory – something which Madrid first brought to the UN in 1963.

"Once again, I must place before this Assembly the question of Gibraltar, a British colony, which this Organisation included, in 1963, in the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories awaiting decolonisation.

"This is the only such territory in Europe, and one that affects our own territorial integrity.

"Since that date, the UK has ignored the mandate of the UN General Assembly and the commitment made to Spain in the 1984 Brussels Declaration.

"This anachronism continues to inconvenience the citizens of Gibraltar and the surrounding area." » | Harriet Alexander | Thursday, September 26, 2013

Spain Offers Argentina Falklands Support

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Spain has offered Argentina its support in seeking to win control of the Falklands from Britain, likening the dispute to the Gibraltar conflict.

Jose [sic] Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Spain's foreign minister, compared his country's battle to get Britain to surrender sovereignty over Gibraltar – a small, rocky outpost ruled by Britain for three centuries – with Argentina's demand for control of the Falklands Islands.

"The similarities are enormous," Mr Garcia-Margallo said from Montevideo, Uruguay adding that both Gibraltar and Falklands were in need of "decolonisation."

Argentina is embroiled in an escalating diplomatic row with Britain over the Falkland Islands, the object of a brief, bloody 1982 war which Buenos Aires lost.

Mr Garcia-Margallo added that Argentina "can count on Spain's support" in its effort to regain control of the Falklands. » | AFP | Thursday, September 05, 2013

Returning the Rock - Gibraltar, April 2002

The colony of just 6.5. sq km has been in British hands since the early 18th century. It was an important staging post for the Empire, and played a vital role in both world wars. On 14 occasions the rock has come under siege from Spain, but Britain has always clung on to its colony. "Spain has never liked the fact that they lost Gibraltar and have consequently made difficulties" says the Governor of Gibraltar. Now the strategic importance has declined, and with Britain and Spain partners in the EU, the British government views it as an anachronism. "There is enormous room for Anglo Spanish relations that for many years have been conditioned by the claim on Gibraltar, " says Alberto Aza. But as the politics rages it's the ordinary people in Gibraltar who most keenly feel a sense of desertion. " Tell Spain that you can't force people to become Spaniards" says one local resident. "Gibraltarians will not stand for it," says another. " We will fight to our deaths." With Britain set to cut their colony adrift, the Gibraltarians are steeling themselves for their toughest battle yet

Gibraltar: Großbritannien schickt Kriegsschiffe Richtung spanische Küste

DIE ZEIT: Ein britisches Manöver vor Gibraltar versetzt Spanien in Aufregung. Während die Briten von Routine sprechen, ist in Spanien von Einschüchterung die Rede.

Großbritannien schickt Kriegsschiffe zu einem Manöver an die Küste seines Überseegebiets vor der spanischen Küste. Die Fregatte HMS Westminster solle am Dienstag auslaufen und binnen einer Woche die britische Enklave Gibraltar erreichen, teilte das Verteidigungsministerium mit. Weitere drei Schiffe sollten schon am Montag britische Häfen in Richtung Mittelmeer verlassen. » | ZEIT ONLINE, AFP, dpa, mpi | Montag, 12. August 2013

Gibraltar: Spain Considers Joint Diplomatic Offensive with Argentina over Falkland Islands

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Spain is considering forging an anti-British alliance with Argentina, adopting its strategy over the Falklands Islands, as the diplomatic row over Gibraltar intensifies

Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo will use a trip to Buenos Aires next month to raise the possibility of forging a joint diplomatic offensive with the South American country over the disputed territories, sources told Spain's El Pais newspaper.

Spain's foreign ministry was also discussing whether to take its complaints over Gibraltar to the United Nations, the newspaper reported on Sunday.

The sources did not specify whether Spain would ask the UN to back a request for Britain to give up sovereignty or just adhere to certain agreements.

It could take its petition to the Security Council or take up the matter with the UN General Assembly.

Spain is also considering the option of denouncing Gibraltar to the International Court of Justice in the Hague for its "illegal occupation" of the isthmus - the strip of land connecting the peninsula to the mainland that was not included in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. » | Fiona Govan, Madrid | Sunday, August 11, 2013