Oct 07 - More Robust Action Necessary - Government Responds to Sunday Incursion
Picked up by a variation of major international news publications today and yesterday, Sunday’s most recent incursion into BGTW by Spanish Survey vessel ‘Angeles Alvarino’ has been highly condemned by both the UK and Gibraltar Governments.
A No.6 statement on the incursion, which saw the vessel attempt to take executive action in BGTW stated that ‘it is clear that more effective and robust action needs to be taken at different levels in order to put a stop such events in future.’
The Chief Minister insisted that ‘In seeking to undermine UK sovereignty Spain is behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner which does not befit a NATO ally and an EU partner.’
He added, ‘we should be engaged with Spain in dialogue as neighbours, trying to improve people's lives by working together to enhance our respective economies. Instead we find the Spanish Government intent on these childish provocations which achieve nothing. The waters around Gibraltar are as British after an incursion of this type as they were before. Nothing is achieved except needlessly risking mariners' lives and wasting precious euros on diesel.’
