Oct 06 - Garcia Exposes Spanish Bullying To Lib Dem Conference In Glasgow
The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia has told an audience of Liberal Democrat politicians in Glasgow that Spain continues to bully and harass Gibraltar by land, air and sea. This followed the news that two Spanish fighter jets had come close to a commercial airliner in the airspace above Gibraltar.
Sir Graham Watson, who replied on behalf of the guests, called upon Liberal Democrats to support Gibraltar in Europe, on issues with which he was very familiar. He reminded those present that the highest Liberal Democrat vote in the European elections, 67%, had been in Gibraltar.
The Government delegation in Glasgow also includes the Minister for Tourism Neil Costa and the Minister for Culture Steven Linares.
Dr Garcia addressed delegates during the traditional Gibraltar Government reception in the Liberal Democrat party conference. Those present included Members of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords.
The Deputy Chief Minister outlined the problems at the border and explained in some detail the delays which he said were deliberate and illegal. He said that Gibraltar had completed the recommendations made by the European Commission within six months and that Spain had failed to meet the deadline.
There were delays of over an hour to leave a Gibraltar during half of August, he said, which was a peak month. September had seen lengthy queues to come into Gibraltar as well as to get out. The peak queuing time in September was four hours, on the 11th which was the day after National Day.
Dr Garcia also explained that incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial waters continued almost as a matter of routine and that this was totally unacceptable. He said that some were more serious than others but added that Spanish state vessels had entered Gibraltar waters on 112 occasions in August and 133 in September. He said that more needed to be done to put an end to this.
He also accused the Spanish Government of continuing to undermine Gibraltar's position in the European Union, particularly over civil aviation matters.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that this was his first visit to Scotland since the Referendum and explained that the will of the Scottish people were and had to be paramount. He regretted that other Governments in Europe had not learnt from this lesson in democracy.
Photo below shows Deputy Chief Minister and Minister Costa with Baroness Harris.
