Nov 21 - UKIP MEP Insists Spain is Behaving Like the Banana Republic
Commenting on the latest round of bad behaviour on the part of the Spanish Authorities, with the recent 21 hour incursion by Spanish Oceanographic Vessel ‘Ramon Margalef’ in BGTW, UKIP MEP for Gibraltar William Dartmouth insisted that the Spanish Government is displaying behaviour ‘more expected of a Latin America Banana Republic than of a mature European national and NATO ally.
Mr. Dartmouth continued, ‘Sadly the pusillanimous response of the EU has, rather than reigned in this behaviour merely given Madrid the green light to preen and bully in Gibraltarian territorial waters.
‘Back in August I called for a permanent naval presence to be maintained in Gibraltar, today Fabian Picardo the Gibraltarian Prime Minister has repeated my call. I urge the Government to take its duty to the people of Gibraltar seriously and dispatch a ship urgently.
‘Sadly as with bullies the world over, Spain doesn’t seem to be able to recognize its folly and ignores quiet diplomacy. The only language it understands is blunt. So be it, we must be blunt.’
