Jul 11 - Government And RGP React To Guardia Civil Incident That Has Sparked Diplomatic Row
Both the Government and the RGP have issued statements following the news that Spain has summoned the UK Ambassador to Madrid in respect of an incident at sea on Friday which took place within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
For its part, the RGP denies that the incident occurred “approximately 1 mile off Catalan Bay” as alleged in the Spanish press.
Instead, the RGP says that the encounter occurred approximately 150 metres off Catalan Bay. According to the RGP, its vessel approached the Guardia Civil vessel and “maintained a safe distance at all times whilst attempting to make contact with the crew” with a view to establishing their intentions.
The RGP says that, as is standard operating procedure, “all encounters between RGP and Spanish Law Enforcement vessels are reported through the appropriate channels.”
Government Supports Royal Gibraltar Police
Number Six also swiftly responded to the gathering diplomatic storm by saying that “it is incredible” that Spain has summoned the UK Ambassador to Madrid because of an incident within BGTW.
The Government insists that the Spanish Government “has no jurisdiction in BGTW and must cease to defy UK sovereignty in the waters around Gibraltar by patrolling within them.”
Adding that there have been complaints for many years at the “dangerous and cavalier manner” in which Spanish state assets have operated in and around BGTW, Number Six also reminds the public of an incident only a few weeks ago in which one such vessel came within 600 yards of a US nuclear submarine in what it calls “an irresponsible direct bee-line approach at speed.”
The Government says it fully supports the Royal Gibraltar Police and all our other agencies in their actions to uphold the law in British waters.
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