tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83721640610514908822024-03-06T02:23:44.902+01:00DEFENDERS OF GIBRALTAR © 2014Its time to take a stand
It is time to show Spain that she cannot continue to oppress us in the Modern Age and call herself a DemocracyDefenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-59841798257049485922017-04-03T22:18:00.000+02:002017-04-03T22:19:01.149+02:00EU to start with has no right to use Gibraltar as a negotiating tool for UK’s Brexit.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">EU to start with has no right to use Gibraltar as a negotiating tool for UK’s Brexit.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Firstly, let us all remember Gibraltar Voted to stay and although in the main compared to UK it means nothing but in actual fact to US as a people it means a lot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We accept democratically that people in UK voted to leave and although we fully understand it – remember we all voted to remain in. Why? It is simple Andalucía and Gibraltar as a whole have benefited from being in the EU especially on free movement of people and trade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now due to Brexit this is put in danger. With it comes as we always knew – the sovereignty issues again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The European Union has no right whatsoever on using Gibraltar as a negotiating tool or a pawn for political gain!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once again Spain that has bullied Gibraltar and its people for over 300 years is once again at risk! How many times does Gibraltar and the people need to vote to state what we want. We have had a referendum in 1967 where we asked if we wanted to pass under Spanish sovereignty or remain under British Sovereignty! Over 12, 000 people voted the result was very clear – 99.64% British Sovereignty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2002 due to Jack Straw stupidity of thinking we would want shared sovereignty – we had a vote again with a clearer question – DO you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Answer was a Yes or NO and the result again over 17 thousand people voted with a result of 98.48% NO!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You would have thought we cannot or have not been clearer than ever” nearly 35 years later from the 1967 referendum! We DO NOT WANT TO BECOME SPANISH OR SHARE WITH SPAIN!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Due to this Jack Straw stupidity, we had to go to a referendum again and ensure that UK never enters into bilateral talks on our sovereignty again. To ensure that this never happens we had a new Gibraltar Constitution</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Order 2006 – UK cannot negotiate without the consent of the people of Gibraltar!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The EU Referendum result for Gibraltar was also very clear – more than 19,300 people voted to REMAIN! 96%</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gibraltar gets along well with Spain until the Spanish Govt claim our land! We have been British for over 300 years one would have expected that Spain understand the message by now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has added insult to injury is that who do the European Union think they are in placing a veto on Gibraltar on the Brexit issue with UK?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is up to Gibraltar and only Gibraltar to decide on our future. The EU has no right at all and as such must take back that Veto clause and UK should stand up and fight it too!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gibraltar is not a pawn to be used by EU – Spain or UK! Hands off us! Gibraltar has a right to be heard and a right to choose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Article 50 our PM should have included Gibraltar so that this did not happen and to ensure we play a part of the Brexit negotiations!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is sad to see that once again the pen pushers in UK did not foresee this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now we need all of our UK MPs and MEPs to stand up and fight for us! EU has no right to interfere with the long-standing dispute that Spain is and has been fixated with about Gibraltar!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What Spain and the EU should be doing is ensuring a good Brexit Trade deal! Donald Tusk is taking the wrong action with his reactions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is more upsetting for me as a Gibraltarian is the silence from the other member states! There is no way to remain neutral in this decision – if member states do not stand up for us it means they agree to oppress us and bully us just like SPAIN! All member states should be outraged by this veto! It is wrong politically and morally!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Remember injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere! Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on the things that matter!</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IT DOES MATTER THAT EU THINK THEY CAN PLACE THIS VETO IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF DEMOCRACY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So hence why we must go worldwide so this injustice stops now! NO Veto on negotiating out of the EU using Gibraltar! End of! Remove any reference to Gibraltar! Like our Chief Minister stated removing would be a sign of good faith and good will. Removing will be limiting damage instead of increasing the damage to Gibraltar who if you think about it were the ones who voted to REMAIN!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The veto is not constructive! The EU has become a game of POWER! Theresa May has to start standing up for us and stop the bullying of smaller UK Territories by EU or Spain or in fact any other country!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I find very hypocritical is the fact that now Spain has come out stating they would accept Scotland as an independent member of the EU – when they will not let Catalunya become independent! Worse that Spain dare to claim my land when they ceded Gibraltar in perpetuity meaning FOREVER! Spain tried to capture Gibraltar in the 13th Seige 1727 then in the great siege 1779/1783. Now in our modern world we have had to have two referendums to show Spain we are not theirs to claim.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyPZPKQNuX-n0q8TitPl2lIEQD5ot2YPmppsR_bI03SU2q2bnrHEIJWrY424jXuS8c44_RRTpVlr7V9LasGlwwxmGyyvRAioW123eho26TF6y1bJAJQpaXAIAJwBfxWUqLPFK58M4vuSm/s1600/17522854_10158675084720268_8858650080978434315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyPZPKQNuX-n0q8TitPl2lIEQD5ot2YPmppsR_bI03SU2q2bnrHEIJWrY424jXuS8c44_RRTpVlr7V9LasGlwwxmGyyvRAioW123eho26TF6y1bJAJQpaXAIAJwBfxWUqLPFK58M4vuSm/s640/17522854_10158675084720268_8858650080978434315_n.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyPZPKQNuX-n0q8TitPl2lIEQD5ot2YPmppsR_bI03SU2q2bnrHEIJWrY424jXuS8c44_RRTpVlr7V9LasGlwwxmGyyvRAioW123eho26TF6y1bJAJQpaXAIAJwBfxWUqLPFK58M4vuSm/s1600/17522854_10158675084720268_8858650080978434315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems that now to Keep SPAIN happy the EU has interfered in what is none of their business. Gibraltar was included as a special member state when UK joined the EU in 1973 – Spain did not join until 1983! So we should play an active part on the BREXIT too! Spain has no say on our future!</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This veto is just a new modern way to try and get control of Gibraltar and UK must stand firm – no deal if Gibraltar is being vetoed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way about Spain consistent claim – let them take it to court as they keep refusing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People say it is not about sovereignty – but it is – look at this correctly – why has Spain got to agree or accept anything about Brexit and specifically on Gibraltar?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgc7BOoCuAXaLB242sUauTL34SNWoF2j0Y74ixk8IwQS_Q09APEFb_oqu2OMhzS1TFgV5a8hX4NmxDdWUHiqo6a6kMrU0l-Xy-5hcgfUquAYkvCuoQee4otm6whMIGB0eIwhG_eXZU1TO/s1600/hypocrisy+of+spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgc7BOoCuAXaLB242sUauTL34SNWoF2j0Y74ixk8IwQS_Q09APEFb_oqu2OMhzS1TFgV5a8hX4NmxDdWUHiqo6a6kMrU0l-Xy-5hcgfUquAYkvCuoQee4otm6whMIGB0eIwhG_eXZU1TO/s640/hypocrisy+of+spain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am sure Spain would not like it if EU interfered with Spain relationship with Morroco – that is about Ceuta and Melilla? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Or with Portugal about </b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Olivenza </b>– which Spain invaded and then made Portuguese currency forbidden and their language and then adopted the Spanish language in the city hall documents! Even private schools were not allowed to teach Portuguese! But yet even when the Portuguese government raises the issue to solve the issue with the people of Olivenza and Spain within the European Union – the EU did not get involved! (2004)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So no we do not trust Spain and never will. But very thankful for the tough message being sent by UK to Spain! About time we heard our UK Lion ROAR!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is the link to the Sky News<span id="goog_940558674"></span><span id="goog_940558675"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> Interview</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/4nCAEd6ICFE" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/4nCAEd6ICFE</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span><br />
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-8337934245463107742017-04-03T08:13:00.005+02:002017-04-03T08:14:05.678+02:00Spain continues to Bully Gibraltar now with EU help!<h2>
Spain continues to Bully Gibraltar now with EU help!</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes I think I need to really pinch myself to see if what has been said by EU is actually true a reality!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How come in this day and age of modernisation and democracy could a institution like the European Union think it can dictate my country's future?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gibraltar and the people are the only ones who can determine our future! It is our CHOICE, our VOICE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We the people of Gibraltar for over 300 years have been BRITISH and will continue until we decide otherwise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is not the EU to decide or even Spain to take! It is not even up to the UK Government to give away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The true reality is that once again my land is being used as a political pawn!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How can this be done? Not only is it wrong for the UK to accept but equally wrong is the EU to allow a veto like it has! Absolutely wrong is the fact that Spain does not drop its claim on OUR land!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is quite shocking for me is to see that 27 Eu member states are quiet about it! So I ask these member states how would you feel if it was your country being vetoed? How would you feel if an institution like the European Union because of a member decides to put at risk your land and people!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fact is the EU is crumbling and is using Gibraltar as a pawn so no other countries dare to leave!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">UK needs to stand up and be the LION and not a tame cat! Spain needs to fix the corruption in their own country and look after their own people! The EU should step back and allow any member states to leave if they so wish! Why? Because of democracy!</span></div>
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/eu-will-not-go-soft-on-gibraltar-brexit-talks-diplomats-say-spain</div>
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http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/786944/Gibraltar-Britain-EU-Donald-Tusk-Andrew-Rosindell-Theresa-May-Spain</div>
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http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/786548/Gibraltar-Brexit-British-territory-Spain-Boris-Johnson-Fabian-Picardo-EU-negotiations</div>
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-gibraltar-idUSKBN1722AS</div>
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/02/theresa-may-would-go-war-defend-sovereignty-gibraltar-says-michael/</div>
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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/02/britain-and-eu-worse-off-without-brexit-deal-says-michael-fallon</div>
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/31/future-of-gibraltar-at-stake-in-brexit-negotiations</div>
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3228879/fury-at-eu-plans-for-spain-veto-on-gibraltar-but-a-boost-for-theresa-may-as-trade-talks-could-begin-this-autumn/</div>
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/fury-eus-bid-use-brexit-10136422</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>So the great thing is we are getting the attention and support in the UK but what we need is the support worldwide and all our European members to help support that Gibraltar are the only ones who decide their future! </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>We ask for our rights to be respected and that no other country or institution be allowed to decide for us!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>So we ask you all to spread the word all over the world so that the EU get the message loud and clear - remove the veto given to Spain over Gibraltar!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></div>
Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-6329751667544408732017-01-22T14:49:00.001+01:002017-01-22T14:49:13.020+01:00Defenders of Gibraltar continue to raise concern of incursions to the Governor Lieutenant General Ed Davis<h2>
Defenders of Gibraltar continue to raise concern of incursions to the Governor</h2>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday, 19th January 2017, the Defenders of Gibraltar represented by its Chairperson Anne-Marie Struggles, Committee Member, Nadia Esserti and it's Press Officer, Ellie McCauley-Cummins met with His Excellency Lieutenant-General Edward Davis. CB CBE Governor and Commander-in Chief Gibraltar, at the Convent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A full and frank discussion on both sides ensued. </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anne-Marie Struggles voiced her concerns about the continued 'bullying' from Spain, not least the escalating Spanish incursions which place residents of Gibraltar and their families in danger at sea. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Excellency acknowledged that these incursions will continue to be monitored vigorously.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Excellency also acknowledges the possible upcoming problems that may occur at the Border when the new amendment to the Schengen Border Code requiring tighter Border controls come into effect in March.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All parties acknowledge that what happens at that time could be a clear indication of the future post Brexit Gibraltar and that the situation will be monitored closely</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DoG also stressed the need for clearer communications from the FCO where possible.</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Defenders of Gibraltar are pleased to confirm that they continue to grow in strength with Committee Members based in the U.K. working closely with all MPs and updating them on the situation in Gibraltar</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our biggest concerns for us as a people is ensuring their safety and security at sea. So we urge everyone who experiences or has experienced any harassment at sea - to email us at defendersofgibraltar@gmail.com and to write a letter to the Governor too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the only way we can ensure our safety and those of our families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some links to remind us of some known issues:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/guardia-civil-severs-fishing-lines-in-bgtw/&source=gmail&ust=1485177268390000&usg=AFQjCNGMyb5kOLEs0PsMVNrR8TiIKezfTQ" href="http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/guardia-civil-severs-fishing-lines-in-bgtw/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/<wbr></wbr>guardia-civil-severs-fishing-<wbr></wbr>lines-in-bgtw/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/guardia-civil-incursion-as-submarine-sails-into-gib/&source=gmail&ust=1485177268390000&usg=AFQjCNEZSUENTJ6_q_0IkCyCRBL92qhIww" href="http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/guardia-civil-incursion-as-submarine-sails-into-gib/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/<wbr></wbr>guardia-civil-incursion-as-<wbr></wbr>submarine-sails-into-gib/</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/597333/Dramatic-moment-Spanish-police-RAM-British-guard-boat-Gibraltar&source=gmail&ust=1485177268390000&usg=AFQjCNFGgRMW_kfyjmWBlSJy2-znQPFXqg" href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/597333/Dramatic-moment-Spanish-police-RAM-British-guard-boat-Gibraltar" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.express.co.uk/news/<wbr></wbr>uk/597333/Dramatic-moment-<wbr></wbr>Spanish-police-RAM-British-<wbr></wbr>guard-boat-Gibraltar</a><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/stick-to-british-waters-govt/&source=gmail&ust=1485177268391000&usg=AFQjCNHnJ2COS0AzI-6FBFI35ResraSPbg" href="http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/stick-to-british-waters-govt/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://chronicle.gi/2016/07/<wbr></wbr>stick-to-british-waters-govt/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Chief Minister is dealing with Brexit and ensuring that UK Government take into consideration Gibraltar in their negotiations in leaving the EU. This is not an easy task for sure but we will survive whatever comes as we are a strong people and determined to survive as Gibraltarians.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Never underestimate the passion of us as a people! Our history of over 300 years is proof of that - with and without an open border!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We will never negotiate our identity!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-659238680489238862016-06-12T16:05:00.001+02:002016-06-12T16:06:10.562+02:00The importance to Vote to "Remain IN" - in our EU referendum voting<h2>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The importance to Vote to remain "IN"- in our EU referendum voting</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never has another referendum for Gibraltar been as important us our last one to Remain British! This referendum gives us a chance to vote as part of the United Kingdom. AS such we urge all British people to think not only what is best for England but best for all of the UK and overseas territories. This includes our magnificent Gibraltar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With UK in the EU we can continue to grow and offer opportunities to everyone to be able to live and work in Sunny Gibraltar and many will continue to reap the benefits of the EU. There is a lot of scaremongering going on about staying IN or Leaving but the facts need to be communicated properly without doubts and emotion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being in the EU allows us all to have a say on our future and allows us all to grow financially even more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13413513_10157000456300023_6413542138203897630_n.jpg?oh=f5ceea579f47a0a57c496c6c256335d9&oe=5803F3B6" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SO we urge all British people to be very cautious and to know what their vote will mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gibraltar benefits from an open frontier and yes even if there are issues caused by Spanish Government the EU has a responsibility to solve them and get involved - no matter how they have tried not to in the past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All British people who also live in Spain benefit greatly by UK remaining IN- their future also depends on UK voting Remain IN on the 23rd June. Not just in Spain but all over Europe we can all travel as EU citizens but if UK vote to leave this is one big part that we will all lose out on. Freedom of trade and movement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We support our Government in Gibraltar on the stance to Vote to REMAIN IN. We stand side by side in Gibraltar as do our Opposition Members as do all businesses in Gibraltar. So as always we the Gibraltarian people will stand side by side with our Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on what is deemed to be the best for our future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we urge everyone out there that has a right to vote on this referendum to please be informed on the impact to all British people everywhere!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read our Chief Minister's call:</span><br />
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http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/678382/eu-referendum-brexit-gibraltar-fabian-picardo<br />
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Together, for over three centuries, we have defended British interests and values. We were there for the Falklands crisis, the IRA era, WWII and even after the historic and decisive Battle of Trafalgar when Admiral Nelson’s body was first landed in our small corner of the British family.</div>
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It’s a great privilege to have the opportunity to put the Gibraltarian perspective across to you in a newspaper that has so often stood up for the Rock and its people, not least when Spain has tried to bully us. That's why it's sad that, on this occasion, many of Gibraltar’s great friends and supporters will have strong personal views on this issue that differ from our own.</div>
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Of course, everyone, every city, town and nation, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has a different opinion on how Britain should vote on June 23rd. I expect the vast majority of people on the Rock will be voting to remain in the European Union. But trust me, centuries of sieges – military, economic and political - have never changed our minds about being British. </div>
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Click link to read more - <span style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/678382/eu-referendum-brexit-gibraltar-fabian-picardo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>All of us who have the right to vote - </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>we urge VOTE to REMAIN IN!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Support Gibraltar by voting in!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Our FUTURE depends on all of you who can vote!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Vote Stay IN and show us you stand with us!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Watch the video below:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/GibStrongerIN/?fref=nf</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">This is our first Referendum Broadcast </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/WrFMkLn9-WQ" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.32px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/WrFMkLn9-WQ</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen to more - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1190303107681650&id=489972314381403</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Anne-Marie Struggles</b></span></div>
Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-47115672512757148932016-05-08T21:37:00.002+02:002016-05-08T21:37:59.044+02:00THE commander of a US nuclear submarine threatened to ram a Spanish customs vessel in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters<h2>
THE commander of a US nuclear submarine threatened to ram a Spanish customs vessel in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters</h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again Spain has nearly caused an international incident! This time our Roya Navy had to warn off Spanish Vessel with Flares.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/05/royal-navy-fires-warning-shots-as-spanish-vessel-harasses-us-sub/</span><br />
<br />
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shots as Spanish vessel harasses US sub in Gibraltar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img alt="HMS Sabre and (inset) USS Florida" height="400" src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/05/05/97104587_USS_Florida-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HMS Sabre and (inset) USS
Florida</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-transform: uppercase;">CREDIT: LA(PHOT)
STUART HILL/MOD/EPA</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/ben-farmer/"><span style="color: #d10a11;">Ben Farmer</span></a>, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">defence correspondent </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">5 MAY
2016 • 12:14PM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d10a11; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-transform: uppercase;">T</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">he Royal Navy fired flares to warn off a Spanish
patrol boat approaching an American nuclear submarine off Gibraltar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The fast patrol boat HMS Sabre fired warning shots
across the bow of a Guardia Civil vessel as it twice tried to cut across the
path of USS Florida during an incursion into Gibraltar’s waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<img alt="USS Florida" height="400" src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/05/05/2224377_USS_Florida_news)-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">USS Florida</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-transform: uppercase;">CREDIT: US
NAVY</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Gibraltar says Spanish vessels regularly stray deep
into its territorial waters and the Foreign Office has attacked the incursions
as provocative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But defence sources said it was rare for a Royal
Navy vessel to fire flares and it had only happened a couple of times in the
past two years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<img alt="A police boat patrols off Gibraltar" height="398" src="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/05/05/20118628_News__Police_boat_patrols_the_coast_off_Gibraltar-large_trans++_R77RNgmPXudI0Y56vZGcB0unFkOuXs4g9ALaGMLBQs.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_13"
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Gibraltar</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-transform: uppercase;">CREDIT: GEOFF
PUGH</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One Naval source said: "It just got too close
and when it's a nuclear submarine, you get twitchy anyway. If you have
responsibility for the protection of it, then you are going to take action much
quicker than you might normally. The force protection measures worked and the
vessel went away."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Officials in the British overseas territory have
complained about the incident as USS Florida visited the British Naval base
last month, the Sun reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Gibraltarians
defiant over border row</span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "a","serif"; font-size: 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">Play!</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">02:40</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Spain claims sovereignty over the strategic
outpost, which stands on the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula, but has
been a British Overseas Territory since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In recent years Madrid has </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">warned it is<b> ready to impose a new border
tax</b>, close its airspace to planes using the British overseas territory's
airport, and investigate the affairs of Gibraltarians with Spanish economic
interests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The row escalated in 2013 after Gibraltar began
building an artificial reef it said would improve fish stocks depleted by
incursions by Spanish fishermen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence declined to
comment on nuclear submarine operations or force protection measures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What will our Governor do now? What will our Chief Minister do? What will Foreign Office do now? What are they all waiting for.... a death? An accident?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wake up UK! Wake up Governor! Wake up Gibraltar!</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
*************************************************************<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Courtesy:<br />
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/668135/Royal-Navy-unprecedented-actions-ordered-US-sub-stuck-Gibraltar-row?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 34.5pt; margin-bottom: 16.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #292221; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 30.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">TRUTH behind the Gibraltar
row: How US submarine threatened Royal Navy to act on Spain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292221; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">THE commander of a
US nuclear submarine threatened to ram a Spanish customs vessel trying to block
its path unless the Royal Navy vessel escorting it took action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.25pt;">
<span style="color: #292221; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">By <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/search/Marco+Giannangeli%252C+EXCLUSIVE+?s=Marco+Giannangeli%2C+EXCLUSIVE+&b=1"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #bb1a00; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; text-underline: none;">MARCO GIANNANGELI, EXCLUSIVE</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">The
US nuclear submarine threatened to ram a Spanish customs vessel trying to block
its path</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Last week it
emerged that a Royal Navy patrol boat fired warning flares across the bow of
the Spanish vessel during the altercation just outside Gibraltar waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It has now been
revealed that the Royal Navy’s unprecedented actions were ordered by USS
Florida’s no-nonsense captain Nathan Martin who warned the Royal Navy to sort
the situation out or he would intervene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It was the first of
two such actions by Spanish vessels that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The second, in
British waters, involved a Garda Civil police boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: #4e6da5; font-family: "Open Sans","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-transform: uppercase;">RELATED
ARTICLES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The US submarine
was making a routine visit to Gibraltar’s submarine base on April 16.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It had already
surfaced but was still in international waters when its path was intercepted by
a Spanish customs vessel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Strict security
protocols, partly prompted by the successful Al Qaeda attack on the US
destroyer USS Cole in 2000, require the captain of any US warship to prevent
uninvited vessels from getting too close to their ship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Despite being escorted
by the Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Sabre, the Spanish vessel crossed the
submarine’s path several times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Captain Martin was
nearing the end of his 77-day operational tour on the submarine when the
altercation took place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<img alt="A Royal Navy patrol boat" src="http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/secondary/boat-532804.jpg" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3"
o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A Royal Navy patrol boat"
style='width:442.5pt;height:354pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\ANNE-M~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"
o:title="A Royal Navy patrol boat"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">CROWN</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">A
Royal Navy patrol boat fired warning flares across the bow of the Spanish
vessel</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;"><img alt="Gibraltar" src="http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/secondary/Gibraltar-532805.jpg" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2"
o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Gibraltar" style='width:442.5pt;
height:279.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\ANNE-M~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="Gibraltar"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">GETTY</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">The
Royal Navy’s unprecedented actions were ordered by USS Florida’s captain Nathan
Martin</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #292221; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is no question from the report that he would have rammed the
Spanish vessel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A senior Royal Navy source<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Last night a senior
Royal Navy source with access to the “After Action” report about the incident,
sent to the First Sea Lord and senior operational commanders, said it was a
very difficult and tense situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The source said: “The
US commander was very concerned about his vessel and our officer was worried
about sparking an international incident, a wrong decision could end your
career in a situation like this and spark confrontation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“The US has very
strict protocols about vessels getting close to their nuclear submarines, in a
very nononsense manner he made it clear he wanted things sorted or he would
resolve the incident, and all he could do was ram the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“It was a very
tense situation. The Spanish had not responded to our transmissions on the
emergency channel to steer away and the US commander was not prepared to wait
any longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<img alt="A Royal Navy patrol boat" src="http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/secondary/navy-532807.jpg" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1"
o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A Royal Navy patrol boat"
style='width:442.5pt;height:354pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\ANNE-M~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"
o:title="A Royal Navy patrol boat"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">CROWN</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #959595; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; padding: 0cm;">A
senior Royal Navy source said it was a very difficult and tense situation</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“He made it very
clear in his radio transmission that he wanted our people to act, or he would
sort the situation out himself and, while he remained polite, he was very
direct in conveying the message that he wasn’t prepared to allow the Spanish
vessel to continue harassing his boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“If our patrol boat
had not fired flares, there is no question from the report that he would have
rammed the Spanish vessel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incredibly, Spanish
authorities failed to heed the lesson. Later another Spanish boat belonging to
the Garda Civil also harassed the submarine, this time in British waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">No flares were
fired on this occasion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Last night Admiral
Lord West, former First Sea Lord, said: “Nuclear submarines are very
unmanoeuvrable when they are on the surface, and it is very stupid for the
Spanish vessel to go in close like that. The Spanish clearly resent the
Americans using Gibraltar, but this is not the way for a fellow EU and Nato
member to behave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">**************************************************************************************************************</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Sun newspaper states:</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is a very dangerous game for the Spanish to play and very unbecoming of a Nato ally to treat the US Navy with such contempt.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>***************************************************************************************************************</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We urge our Government to put the pressure on UK Government and the FCO and our Governor to protect our waters and to enforce a stronger security before we have a disaster!</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></span></div>
Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-33519730608036113852016-04-14T14:34:00.002+02:002016-04-14T14:34:34.519+02:00Spain has not taken long to threaten border closure while UK faces the IN or OUT of EU referendum!<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spain has not taken long to threaten border closure while UK faces the IN or OUT of EU referendum!</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It never ceases to amaze me that Spain would use this difficult situation to once again find a way to bully Gibraltar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can you imagine how hard life would become for us the people of Gibraltar if UK did vote out?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As if it is not bad enough what happens when we are in I can only imagine how it will only get worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the moment of course all politicians are united in Gibraltar to encourage the Vote in and as such are supporting and pushing the vote in campaign called Remain IN. OF course they are and will as it is the future of Gibraltar not only for now but further generations to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But one point that Spain continues to miss is that SPAIN is also benefiting from Gibraltar. More than 10, 000 cross borders workers depend on Gibraltar in Europe for jobs and security. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">La Linea, Algeciras, all the way to Malaga businesses and workers travel to work or make money from Gibraltar. So to think otherwise is such a foolish attitude.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spain should encourage more co operation between Gibraltar and Spain and not try to cause more division.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The time has come if anything for Spain to join the spreading of the IN campaign especially since so many ex pats live in Spain and have a right to vote.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spain should start to being more understanding of the true situation that affects their own people that live and depend so much on the prosperity they enjoy because of Gibraltar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also we need to urge all UK citizens to also think about us when they vote - we are also British and we have been loyal to UK for more than 300 years! Now UK citizens should show more support towards Gibraltar and its people.</span><br />
<br />
******************<br />
Courtesy The SUN<br />
<br />
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7034232/Spain-could-blockade-Gibraltar-if-UK-votes-to-leave-EU.html<br />
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Spain could blockade Gibraltar if UK votes to leave EU, diplomat warns</h1>
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'We wouldn't have to respect free movement of labour, capital or goods,' said senior Spanish official</h2>
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<figcaption class="imageDetails" itemprop="description" style="font-weight: 700 !important;">The Rock has caused tension between Spain and the UK for years<span class="credit copyright" style="float: right; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400 !important;"> Alamy</span></figcaption></div>
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SPAIN could close its borders with Gibraltar if Britain leaves the EU, a senior Spanish official has warned.</div>
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The diplomat warned Spain could tear up its obligations to the Rock if the UK votes Leave on June 23.</div>
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The unnamed source told the <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4723350.ece" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Times</a> Madrid would no longer have to respect directives from Brussels on free movement of capital, goods and labour towards the British overseas territory.</div>
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<figcaption class="imageDetails" itemprop="description" style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Spain Gibraltar border<span class="credit copyright" style="float: right; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400 !important;"> Alamy</span></figcaption></div>
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“We do not see Britain leaving the European Union as an opportunity but you have to understand that if Brexit happened it would change our obligations to Gibraltar,” the source told The Times.</div>
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“No longer would we have to respect the free movement of labour, not having long queues and the free movement of capital and goods which Brussels demands.</div>
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"We could even close the border if we wanted.”</div>
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The Spanish government sees Gibraltar as a territory under “illegal occupation” and has aggressively maintained Madrid’s claim to sovereignty. Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht.</div>
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The government source said: “It is rather like if Spain occupied a territory in the Firth of Forth, allowed nuclear submarines to visit, helped industries to develop, used it to smuggle contraband cigarettes and said the waters around it belonged to Spain.</div>
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“I do not imagine the Scottish would be too pleased.”</div>
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<b>READ MORE:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7033458/Europe-let-45-thugs-into-Britain-who-went-on-to-murder-GBH.html" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Free to kill: Europe let 45 thugs into Britain who went on to murder, rape and GBH</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7031668/Money-from-UK-taxpayers-helping-people-who-fund-terrorism.html" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Britain’s £12bn foreign aid budget helping people who fund terrorism</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7030391/Osborne-and-Gove-hold-secret-peace-talks.html" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Osborne and Gove hold secret peace talks in bid to halt Tory rift over EU</a></div>
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Spanish foreign minister José Manuel García-Margallo, recently suggested if the UK votes for Brexit Britain and Spain could resume talks on joint sovereignty which were shelved by Tony Blair’s government in 2002.</div>
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Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar, said: “Why would a modern European country behave despotically to a democratic people whose only desire is to have good relations and co-operation with our neighbours?</div>
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“Gibraltar will not surrender its sovereignty, not one bit of our land, not one drop of our territorial waters and not one breath of air. We have seen off many sieges of many kinds and the Gibraltarian spirit is as resolved and determined to defend our rights. Gibraltar will never surrender.”</div>
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Rob Oxley, from the Vote Leave campaign, said: “Our membership of EU is not protecting us from Spanish irrationality; the country already ignores rules on Gibraltar so you have to ask are we any better off in the EU? It is not an argument to say these guys are really bad so better to be in the EU with them than outside without them.”</div>
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In 2013 Brussels had to call in inspectors after a row broke out between Britain and Spain.</div>
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Spanish officials had introduced tough border controls, which caused huge delays, in retaliation for the creation of an artificial reef in waters off Gibraltar.</div>
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Tensions between the UK and Spain have been strained recently with around 300 unlawful incursions by Spanish vessels into British Gibraltarian waters last year.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">So no one in Gibraltar needs to be told how to vote as we all know we need to stay in EU to </span><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 36.8px;">continue</span><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;"> to prosper and grow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">But the EU needs to realise that Spain should not be allowed to make life hard whether we are in or out of Europe!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">Spain should not be allowed to threaten or bully or even spread so much bad publicity about our Land and people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">Europe is about Unity and working together as human beings no matter what country or nationality!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">*******</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: 17px; line-height: 2.3rem;">Courtesy of Gibraltar Chronicel</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 36.8px;">http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/lets-vote-to-stay-in-an-imperfect-eu/</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://chronicle.gi/2016/04/lets-vote-to-stay-in-an-imperfect-eu/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #25282a; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Let’s vote to stay in an imperfect EU">Let’s vote to stay in an imperfect EU</a></h1>
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<img alt="Fabian Picardo 5 2 16" src="http://i2.wp.com/chronicle.gi/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-06-at-11.49.38-AM.png?resize=1452%2C1004" height="220" width="320" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo</strong></div>
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When the issue of a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the EU was first mooted, I asked David Cameron and David Lidington to ensure we would be able to vote with the rest of the UK. Both agreed. True to their words, when the vote was called, British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens resident in Gibraltar were included in the franchise.</div>
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THE CAMPAIGN</div>
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Now the coming weeks are going to move very quickly as we rollercoaster our way towards the vote on June 23<sup style="box-sizing: border-box;">rd.</sup></div>
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Alongside the dates of our other, historic, referenda, that will be one of the most important days in our modern history.</div>
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The referendum to decide whether we remain in the European or leave it will be a defining moment for Gibraltar’s future and indeed that of the United Kingdom.</div>
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UNITY</div>
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I, along with the all the elected political party leaders, am asking you to go out and vote “REMAIN”.</div>
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Gibraltar is not often politically united.</div>
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You should realise the seminal importance of this vote given your politicians’ unprecedented unity on this subject which is not directly a sovereignty question.</div>
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Some of you may feel your politicians argue too much. Maybe. But the reasons we are firmly united on this occasion have at their heart the preservation of our country’s many achievements over the past three decades.</div>
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I therefore call on you to work with me and your other political and civic leaders to make sure that family and friends also use their vote to REMAIN in the EU. For anyone who will be away or unable to attend a polling station, make sure you or they organise their proxy votes.</div>
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GIB STRONGER IN</div>
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Your MPs, representing the entire Gibraltar Parliament will be joined by other representatives of civil society, trade unions, commerce and many others in giving whole hearted support to Gibraltar Stronger in Europe campaign.</div>
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In the very capable hands of Gemma Vasquez and her team, I know Gibraltarians will give the “Gibraltar Stronger In” group every support.</div>
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Voting at this referendum is as important as any referendum we have held in Gibraltar.</div>
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SURVIVAL</div>
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Leaving the EU will not destroy us. Nothing can.</div>
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Despite the headlines, Gibraltar has seen through many sieges and battles, challenges and often turned these into opportunities.</div>
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Like on every occasion when we have been written off, we would endure and we would succeed.</div>
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Of that I have no doubt at all.</div>
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IF IT AIN’T BROKE</div>
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But why break something that works relatively well?</div>
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Why exit a growing, expanding trading block that has delivered the prosperity that we enjoy today?</div>
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Why move from the certainty of our status today to the unknown of the status we could have once the UK renegotiates it’s relationship as a non-member of the EU.</div>
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Why would 30,000 people want to exclude themselves from a trading block of 520m people that will soon also have a free trade agreement with the 400m people in the USA?</div>
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UNCERTAINTY</div>
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The only thing that is clear is that leaving the EU will certainly create unnecessary uncertainty.</div>
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Yes, there are always winners and losers with major change. But in terms of Gibraltar we are agreed, across the political, commercial and trades union spectrum, that the losses with a leave vote far outweigh any benefits.</div>
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The many ‘ifs’ that a leave vote creates – such as what happens at our frontier, what happens to financial services in the City of London, would Scotland once again seek independence etc – are simply the source of more uncertainty.</div>
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OUR PROSPERITY</div>
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Nothing has ever been easy for Gibraltar.</div>
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Successive Chief Ministers have had to battle on many fronts – Spain, the EU and even sometimes the UK itself – to arrive at a Gibraltar that was strong enough to ride the many storms we have endured and to live in relative prosperity.</div>
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We have seen though joint-sovereignty attempts, global economic upheaval and twisted Spanish diplomacy chomping at our doorstep.</div>
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We won our right to vote at EU elections in the Court of Human Rights in a case against the UK.</div>
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We have won and prevailed against countless EU Commission moves in areas such as tax and defended our highly reputable finance centre and our highly regulated gaming industry and both are now therefore highly regarded.</div>
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We have won EU passporting rights crucial to the financial industries.</div>
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By remaining in the EU we keep our successes and battle on.</div>
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If we leave we will need to go back to the drawing board in some of the hard fought areas and we will rely on each successive UK government not sacrificing us to the expediency of its own political, economic and commercial interests and needs.</div>
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SPAIN’S CLAIM</div>
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Spain’s caretaker Foreign Minister is already excited at the thought of gaining leverage to pursue his personal sovereignty campaign against us.</div>
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Well, whatever the outcome of the referendum let me be very clear: we will never surrender to pressure from Spain. Gibraltar will always remain ours.</div>
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Gibraltar belongs to the British Gibraltarians and that is not going to change.</div>
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Gibraltar will, of course, live to fight another day and we will survive whatever the challenge that comes before us. Your government is ready for the hard work that rebuilding a new economic model for the future will entail. We have been working on the options for some time.</div>
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FOR OUR CHILDREN</div>
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But why put ourselves and our children through all that uncertainty and subject to new potential pitfalls?</div>
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If the best part of our 23,000 eligible voters choose REMAIN, the significance of that unity will go far beyond there being at least a slim chance that we tip the balance.</div>
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Whatever the outcome of the overall referendum, Gibraltar must signal to UK, the EU and the world the direction we want to take: free movement of people, capital, goods and services, the right to trade freely with UK, with Europe and the world. Britain, as much as the rest of Europe and the World, need to hear from us what we expect of it.</div>
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Our message must be united and clear.</div>
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A huge Gibraltar vote to REMAIN is the only option that will get that message across.</div>
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The EU is far from perfect. But voting to REMAIN in it is the right choice for Gibraltar.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 2.3rem;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-40634777379231727632016-02-13T18:10:00.001+01:002016-02-13T18:11:37.309+01:00New Governor and still no action on Spanish incursions in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!<h2>
New Governor and still no action on Spanish incursions in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is the point in having a <b>Governor</b> if nothing is ever done and we all know Governors have no power and are only a representative of Our Majesty?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this day and age A Governor should have the the sincerity to state the truth - "Sorry Gibraltarians but the reality is my hands are tied by the pen pushers in the Foreign Office!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But will one Governor ever be so honest? I doubt it very much. To be honest I had high hopes for Sir James Dutton but that failed big time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I had hopes for our new Governor - but the delays to see a positive reaction on the incursions and dangers in our waters leaves a lot to be desired! Once again I truly believe we are just being ignored as a people on the dangers and security risk at sea. May our <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;">new </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 12.8px;">Governor wake up to realisation of the truth of his position!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;">Lieutenant General Edward Davis - </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;">You need to remember what your true role is here even if that makes you unpopular with </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;">the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12.8px;">FCO!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">You Sir - The Governor serve as </span>Commander-in-Chief<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> of Gibraltar's military forces and <b><u>have sole responsibility for defence and security</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">So, the question has to be asked why are you doing nothing about the incursions that have been happening just for the few weeks you have been here? We are fed up of the constant paper protests that have never resulted in any solution!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>A reminder of a few issues of what has happened during your watch:</b></span></span></span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">11th February - Spanish Para Military 4th incursion off Europa Point</span></b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">9th February - Smugglers ram into Police launch - you say you are happy with state of the art equipment.</span></b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">4th February - Another Para-miliatry incurions - </span></b></span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 9.18857px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not a "serious incursion" according to the FCO</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>4th Feb ref incursion - you send a protest - words that blow and go with the wind!</b></span></span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">3rd Feb - </span></span>Unusual Algeciras Pilot Incursion - you referred this incident to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. </b></li>
<li><b>22nd January Incursions by SPS Serviola & Aguila - </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">Convent spokesperson said; "Incursions are a violation of sovereignty. However, they do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">" </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><b>January and February </b>- Continous illegal fishing activity by Spanish fishermen in our waters- nothing done!</span></li>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><b><u>Not a thing done about constant incursions</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 9.18857px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is not a "serious incursion" according to the FCO</b></span></span><br />
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<img src="https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/12694648_10153443581496313_5755162816207426294_o.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><b>SVA Aguila IV INCURSION OFF EUROPA POINT</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">La Turbo got too close and lingered for too long off Europa Point today and despite the Navy RHIB presence and warnings from Navy Ops they still refused to budge. It was not until HMS Scimitar arrived and told them to leave did they comply.</span></span><br />
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Convent launches investigation into incursion</h1>
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The Convent has launched an investigation into an incident earlier this week in which an Algeciras pilot vessel navigated a tanker out of Gibraltar waters and into Spanish waters, without permission.</div>
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A spokesperson declined to comment further at this stage but confirmed that the British government will be protesting the incident to the Spanish government.</div>
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The Port Authority has said the incursion was a blatant disregard for the navigational safety of vessels in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. GBC understands the Algeciras pilot vessel is likely to have breached EU law, as well as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in several different ways.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>PRESS RELEASE
No: 42/2016
Date: 3rd February 2016</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://gibraltarpanorama.gi/15209/169804/a/now-incursion-by-algeciras-pilot-vessel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unusual Algeciras Pilot Incursion </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> An ‘incursion’ into BGTW by an Algeciras pilot vessel took place just after midday on Wednesday
3rd February 2016.
The Algeciras pilot boat ‘Piloto’ was observed at 1225 hours entering BGTW by the Gibraltar Port
Authority Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) staff, heading towards a large tanker which had just
weighed anchor off the Western Arm.
The pilot boat continued towards the tanker without any request to Gibraltar VTS for permission
to enter BGTW and several minutes later the pilot boarded the vessel less than one mile from the
Western Arm despite instructions given to the master from Gibraltar VTS not to allow the
boarding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Algeciras pilot then proceeded to navigate the tanker out of BGTW, finally anchoring the
vessel to the north, in Spanish waters off El Campamento.
These ‘incursions’ by the Algeciras pilots are a fairly frequent occurrence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> However, in this
particular instance the action, deep into the western anchorage, with no communication with
Gibraltar Port Authority, was a blatant disregard for the navigational safety of vessels in BGTW. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has immediately referred this incident to the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office. The Government expects appropriate and proportionate action to be
taken urgently via the appropriate diplomatic channels. </span></div>
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http://www.gbc.gi/news/incursions-sps-serviola-aguila-31377</div>
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Incursions by SPS Serviola & Aguila</h1>
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The Convent will be protesting two incursions by Spanish State vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on Friday. The Spanish Navy Patrol Boat, the SPS Serviola, entered BGTW during the morning on the Eastside. In the afternoon there was also an incursion by a Spanish Customs launch, SVA Aguila, which was escorted by the Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron. The Convent has confirmed it will be protesting to the Spanish authorities. </div>
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Convent spokesperson said; "Incursions are a violation of sovereignty. However, they do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters." </div>
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(Photos: Tommy Finlayson) </div>
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http://chronicle.gi/2016/02/police-review-marine-operations-collision/</div>
<h1 class="post_title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #25282a; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 55px; line-height: 60.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Police review marine operations after collision</h1>
<ul class="post_details clearfix" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; float: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 15px 0px 0px;">
<li class="detail date" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("images/icons/other/post_date.png"); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7c7c7c; float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">February 9, 2016</li>
<li class="detail author" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("images/icons/other/post_author.png"); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7c7c7c; float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><a class="author" href="http://chronicle.gi/author/cristina-cavilla/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed1c24; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Cristina Cavilla">Cristina Cavilla</a></li>
</ul>
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<a class="post_image page_margin_top prettyPhoto" href="http://i1.wp.com/chronicle.gi/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SirJCDamage.jpg?fit=1024%2C576" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; margin: 30px 0px 20px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Police review marine operations after collision"><img alt="Police review marine operations after collision" class="attachment-small-slider-thumb size-small-slider-thumb wp-post-image" src="http://i1.wp.com/chronicle.gi/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SirJCDamage.jpg?resize=690%2C450" height="260" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.4s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="post_content page_margin_top_section clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; margin: 50px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="content_box" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 207px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;">
<div class="text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Royal Gibraltar Police will bolster training and equipment for marine officers following Sunday’s dramatic collision between a police launch and a smuggler’s boat.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Police will conduct a review of their rules of engagement and will explore the purchase of new kit, potentially including ‘vessel arrest systems’ designed to snare propellers to bring vessels to a halt.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The review is focused on non-lethal equipment but the RGP said it had not ruled out the possibility of arming its marine officers.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“All options remain open,” a police spokesman told the Chronicle.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The review comes after RGP Marine Section officers were rammed by suspected drug smugglers during a chase on Sunday afternoon.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The incident highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers out at sea.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This is yet another reminder of the dangers that the officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police and other law enforcement agencies face on a daily basis whilst combating drug smuggling in the Straits of Gibraltar,” police Commissioner Eddie Yome said.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I am grateful to the officers of the Marine Section for their bravery, professionalism and determination when attempting to intercept suspect vessels, in what are becoming all too frequent occurrences.”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191919; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I am mindful that the safety of the officers must be a prime concern. I have asked for a review of our rules of engagement at sea. I have also asked for techniques to be researched and equipment to be considered, to assist in deterring and combating such actions and affording the officers the best possible means of protecting themselves.</span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inspector Albert Buhagiar, Head of the Marine Section, said in an interview with GBC that the smugglers would do anything to get away, including ramming police vessels and throwing projectiles at officers.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“They are out there to do one thing and that is drug trafficking,” he said.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He declined to be drawn by GBC on the nature of the review but said that the safety of both RGP officers and the smugglers themselves “is paramount”.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest incident unfolded shortly before 5pm as officers patrolled British Gibraltar Territorial Waters aboard the interceptor vessel Sir John Chapple.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The crew had earlier chased a 12 metre Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat [RHIB], with four occupants, out of Gibraltar waters.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Whilst stationary close to Europa Point they were alerted to the presence of two RHIBs about four miles off the eastern end of the runway.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shortly after the crew were informed that one of the two vessels was now navigating slowly in a southerly direction and about three miles east off Eastern Beach.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The crew then proceeded north on an interception course. On nearing the suspect vessel the navigator of the RHIB carried out an evasive manoeuvre which culminated with a direct thrust at the police RHIB colliding with the stern and damaging one of the four engines.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The suspect RHIB was approximately 13 metres in length and was carrying four occupants. As a result of the collision they were able to escape into Spanish waters.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The RGP officers, operating their RHIB on three engines, then gave chase to the smaller second vessel which was further to the north and carrying six occupants. This vessel also escaped into Spanish waters.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two of its occupants were later apprehended by the Spanish authorities once onshore.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The RGP officers then returned to base with their damaged RHIB escorted by a Gibraltar Defence Police RHIB which had deployed to assist.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">GSD COMMENDS RGP</strong></div>
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The GSD has commended the bravery of the marine officers whose vessel was rammed by suspected drug smugglers during a chase on Sunday.</div>
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The GSD, who echoed the words of the Commissioner of Police, Eddie Yome, added that it welcomed the fact that none of the officers sustained injuries.</div>
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“Incidents like these serve to highlight the dangers faced by our law enforcement officers, whether they be from the RGP the GDP or Customs, at sea, on a regular basis,” Trevor Hammond said on behalf of the GSD.</div>
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“Their courage in dealing with all such incidents is to be applauded, as is the excellent co-operation that clearly exists between the RGP and GDP marine sections. It is pleasing to note from reports that at least some of the smugglers involved in the incident were subsequently apprehended.”</div>
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Police have ‘state of the art’ equipment to undertake dangerous work at sea</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "open_sansregular";"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">http://gibraltarpanorama.gi/15209/172435/a/police-have-state-of-the-art-equipment-to-undertake-dangerous-work-at-sea</span></span></div>
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February 10, 2016 | By Leo Olivero</div>
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The Governor Lieutenant General Ed Davis and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo conducted their first joint official engagement yesterday afternoon when they visited the ‘Joint Services Marine Base at Gun Wharf’ to be introduced to the police officers and crew of the RGP vessel involved in the serious drug trafficking incident in BGTW over the weekend.<br />
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They were given a first-hand comprehensive account of the incident by RGP crew members involved, and showed the damage caused to one of the engines. They also went on board the RGP interceptor vessel ‘Sir John Chapple’ involved in the incident. Both HE and the CM showed great interest and asked a number of questions, they congratulated the officers for the invaluable and dangerous work they perform.<br />
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Later, taking a few questions from the press at the end of the visit the Governor said he was impressed on how professional and courageous the crew involved in the incident were, adding they perform a ‘great job and was very proud of them’<br />
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Answering a Panorama question, on why the Royal Navy do not support the police in ‘drug related incidents in BGTW’ when the RN perform counter-drug and counter- terrorist operations in many other places except Gibraltar. The Governor replied, ‘Commander British Forces and the Police are constantly reviewing what the threat is and the forces are given according to the threat, and what you see in Gibraltar is a force structure of police law enforcement and military and navy vessels which is adequate for doing the job’<br />
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The Governor added, ‘the reason why RN vessels are used in counter narcotics operations elsewhere, is because we don’t’ have a Gibraltar in those places where the smaller vessels that you see here that the RGP and GDP have. The RN frigates that you see are providing the mother ship that the Rock of Gibraltar provides to the agencies of Gibraltar’<br />
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The Governor finally added that he was comfortable with the set up in Gibraltar although always looking out to improve it.<br />
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The Chief Minister said he was conscious of the dangers that officers endure every night, it has been an incident that has hit the headlines, although the public should not think this is something that happens once in a while, it is happening every single night. Gibraltar has to be alive to these situations that happen ever night and why the Government when it came into office in 2011soon purchased these new assets that the RGP now have which have been in operation for some time’. Government he added, ‘has also invested in their maintenance, and have in fact recently purchased four more large engines, which are on the way, and other smaller engines.<br />
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The CM added, ‘there needs to be constant investment, the assets the Police have now protects them more then what they use to have when the RGP in the past, were operating only with confiscated vessels from drug traffickers. Even with safer vessels, it doesn’t take away the dangers that crews are in,, the public has a debt of gratitude to thank the police for what they do in BGTW every single night’<br />
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Mr Picardo said that together with the police the Government discuss if equipment requires upgrading or additional assets purchased but this was something that is considered carefully with the Commissioner, the equipment is now state-of-the-art.<br />
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The Chief Minister was also happy regarding the cooperation that now exists between law enforcement agencies which wasn’t as positive not so long ago, and was pleased that he assisted in the improvement of that relationship, praising both the RGP Commissioner and GDP Chief Officer who made it happen.<br />
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On a question asked regarding ‘rules of engagement’ the CM said it was not an issue he had any qualification or expertise to bring into that discussion and that it was an issue for the Commissioner and his team. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Continuous illegal fishing in our waters!</span></div>
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Governor chairs first GSC meeting</h1>
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The Gibraltar Security Council has held its first meeting chaired by Governor Edward Davis since he took office last month. The Chief Minister and Commander of British Forces also attended this meeting along with senior members of their staff.</div>
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The GSC analysed the currect threat level and concluded that Gibraltar should remain at Substantial level. The response to this threat level will be reassessed on a regular basis.</div>
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The governor said that while there was no specific threat to the Rock it was important that we all remain vigilant and for the public to report anything they consider suspicious to the police. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What about the protection of our Waters SIr?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">http://www.gbc.gi/news/governor-advocates-closer-cooperation-spain-sea-combat-drug-smuggling-31513</span></span></div>
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Governor advocates closer cooperation with Spain at sea to combat drug smuggling</h1>
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The Governor has said more co-ordination is neccessary with our Spanish and Moroccan counterparts if we are to avoid incidents like the one which saw a Marine Section RHIB rammed by suspected drug smugglers during a chase on Sunday afternoon. These comments were made when the new Governor and the Chief Minister visited the damaged Police vessel on Tuesday.</div>
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The Governor, Lieutenant General Edward Davis, and the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, made the trip to the Marine Base at Gun Wharf to get a first hand look at the RHIB which was damaged during the high-speed chase. Mr. Picardo congratulated the officers involved for their professionalism and courage when faced by the aggressive actions of smugglers.</div>
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The Governor, who arrived on the Rock a little over a fortnight ago, was keen to point out that the threat from drug smuggling needs to be countered with the relevant equipment and training. However, he believes current resources are acceptable.</div>
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While at the scene, the RGP were called into action as a suspected smuggling vessel was spotted crossing the Strait. The Police were quick to try and intercept the smugglers, sending out an RGP RHIB. This event only goes to further emphasise the frequency of this type of incursion and the dangers the RGP Marine Section face daily.</div>
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How can you as Governor think we have the necessary equipment to tackle Smugglers, Spanish Para military and their NAVY? Do you know what our police have to defend themselves? </div>
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Below are some comments from others on Social Media:</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>At least they should be armed with baton shotgun or rubber bullets like the Guardia Civil have cos when a person is hit with one of these it leave a very big bruise that I am sure they won't be back as the message will get through that drugs cannot be transshipped through BGTW</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>Remember the RGP Marine crew are not supplied with any weapons other than a wooden baton, but it's high time they were issued with at least something more effective!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>Gibraltar Authority ie the RGP marine Section have to put a stop to it even if the officers have to carry the Shotgun that fires Hard rubber Baton rounds like the Guardia Civil launch.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">The RGP crew on-board the Gib patrolling vessels should be properly armed in the same manner RGP officers are armed outside the convent, airport, & elsewhere, those officers at at sea are unprotected, this time it was an incident with drug smugglers, next time could be a group of terrorist. Though at night you could not tell if they are carrying drugs, weapons, & explosives, even immigrants</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>But I guess until there is a death or a big incident you will do nothing as many before have done!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;"><b>A reminder to Your Excellency on facts:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Gibraltar logged 431 Spanish vessels' incursions into territorial waters</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><b><i>http://en.mercopress.com/2016/01/14/gibraltar-logged-431-spanish-vessels-incursions-into-territorial-waters</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>The number of unlawful incursions by Spanish state vessels into British Gibraltar territorial waters rose last year compared to 2014. </i></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;">But the number of serious incidents tailed off in the final months of 2015 against the context of diplomatic efforts to increase cooperation at sea, according to a report published in the Gibraltar Chronicle.</i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;">Figures released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office show that a total of 431 incursions were logged by British officials last year.</i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;">That compares to 387 in 2014 but is significantly lower than the 486 incursions recorded in 2013, when tensions at sea were running high.</i></div>
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;">Figures released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in response to Chronicle questions show that a total of 431 incursions were logged by British officials last year.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>That compares to 387 in 2014 but is significantly lower than the 486 incursions recorded in 2013, when tensions at sea were running high.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>The total for last year was pushed up by an intense period between May and August, when over 40 incursions per month were logged.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>It was during this time too that a number of serious incidents unfolded at sea, including one in which Spanish customs officers fired warning shots close to a local pleasure boat.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>That incident was described as “outrageous” by the British and Gibraltar governments at the time and led to diplomatic efforts to defuse tension and focus instead on cooperation.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>The Royal Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron, together with the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Defence Police and HM Customs (Gibraltar), also stepped up their presence at sea as a deterrent.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>Since then, officials said there had been “a noticeable decline” in the number of serious incursions.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>Law enforcement agencies from both sides of the border have also cooperated in a number of anti-smuggling operations at sea.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your Excellency, for your Convent and FCO to come out with <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"> "Incursions are a violation of sovereignty. However, they do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters." is bar far the most ridiculous response ever! What the heck are these incursions succeeding if not to undermine British Soveriegnty on our very own waters! I am absolutely gob smacked to think that you think this is acceptable behaviour. IF this were to happen in The Falklands or by the French in Dover would you say the same? I doubt it very much indeed!</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>Time to wake up and stand up for Gibraltar in its entirety and that includes our waters!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>Chairperson </i></span></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-54027122713144641132016-01-21T21:17:00.001+01:002016-01-21T21:17:21.554+01:00Gibraltar has a new Governor! Will he protect Gibraltar and British Territorial waters? Will he just send useless protests each time?<h2>
Gibraltar has a new Governor! Will he protect Gibraltar and British Territorial waters? Will he just send useless protests each time?</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So once again we have another new Governor <b style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 17.248px; text-align: center;">Lieutenant General Ed Davis. </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;">Lieutenant General Davis will be the third of the last four Governors of Gibraltar who comes to us from the Royal Marines. He is married to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;"><b>Lorraine Davis</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We welcome him to Gibraltar and hope he will do much more to stop the incursions in our British Territorial Waters. We also hope that he actually puts into action the responsibility he has in ensuring the security of Gibraltar and our waters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The question is - will he do it or will he just be another puppet for the Foreign Office?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only time will tell if he still has the British roar of a lion or not! For Gibraltar's sake I hope he starts standing up to the bullying tactics from Spain's Government towards Gibraltar and our people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*************************************************************************************************</span></span><b style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.32px; line-height: 17.248px; text-align: center;"><br /></b>
Lieutenant General<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Edward Grant Martin "Ed" Davis</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">CB, CBE</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> (born 13 February 1963) is a senior </span>Royal Marines<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> officer. He was </span>Commandant General Royal Marines<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> from December 2011 to June 2014. He is currently the Deputy Commander of </span>NATO<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">'s </span>Allied Land Command<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> at Izmir, Turkey. He became </span>Governor of Gibraltar<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> in January 2016.</span><br />
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<img alt="Image result for Lieutenant-General Edward Davis CB CBE" height="200" 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" width="132" /><br />
<img alt="Image result for Lieutenant-General Edward Davis CB CBE" height="185" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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Below is the info from Wikipedia<br />
<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: 'Linux Libertine', Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="Early_life">Early life</span></h2>
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Davis was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Hereford">Hereford</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herefordshire" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Herefordshire">Herefordshire</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="England">England</a>. He was educated at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleraine_Academical_Institution" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Coleraine Academical Institution">Coleraine Academical Institution</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Londonderry" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="County Londonderry">County Londonderry</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Northern Ireland">Northern Ireland</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_College_London" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="King's College London">King's College London</a> (MA Defence Studies).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RN_Bio_2-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-RN_Bio-2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup></div>
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<span class="mw-headline" id="Military_career">Military career</span></h2>
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Davis was <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioned_officer" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Commissioned officer">commissioned</a> into the Royal Marines in 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bio_3-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-bio-3" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup> In 1996, he attended the Army Command and Staff Course at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_College,_Camberley" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Staff College, Camberley">Staff College, Camberley</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RN_Bio_2-1" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-RN_Bio-2" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup> In the same year, he became Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of the Combat Service Support Group (UK) in which role he took part in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_War" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Bosnian War">Bosnian War</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bio_3-1" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-bio-3" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup> He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander of the UK’s Amphibious Forces in 2007 and was deployed to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> as Chief of Joint Effects for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="International Security Assistance Force">ISAF</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bio_3-2" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-bio-3" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup> He was appointed Commander of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Commando_Brigade" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="3 Commando Brigade">3 Commando Brigade</a> in January 2010 and again deployed to Afghanistan – this time as the Commander of Task Force Helmand.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-4" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a></sup> He became <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandant_General_Royal_Marines" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Commandant General Royal Marines">Commandant General Royal Marines</a> in December 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-5" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[5]</a></sup></div>
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He was promoted to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Major-general (United Kingdom)">major general</a> on 10 January 2012, with seniority from 28 November 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LG_10_January_2012_6-0" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-LG_10_January_2012-6" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[6]</a></sup> Davis succeeded Lieutenant General <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Messenger" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Gordon Messenger">Gordon Messenger</a> as Deputy Commander of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="NATO">NATO</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Land_Command" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Allied Land Command">Allied Land Command</a> (LANDCOM)-Izmir in July 2014.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-7" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[7]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Davis_(Royal_Marines_officer)#cite_note-8" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[8</a></sup></div>
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Minister for Europe has welcomed the swearing-in of the new Governor of Gibraltar, Lieutenant-General Edward Grant Martin Davis CB CBE</div>
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Lieutenant-General Edward Davis arrived in Gibraltar today onboard RFA Mounts Bay. Following a short welcome ceremony and 17-gun salute from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Lieutenant-General Davis took the oaths of allegiance and Execution of Office at a swearing-in ceremony at the Gibraltar Parliament.</div>
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Minister for Europe David Lidington said:</div>
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I am delighted to see Lieutenant-General Edward Davis take up his role as Governor of Gibraltar today. Lieutenant-General Davis will bring a wealth of experience to the position, and I look forward to working with him across a range of important issues.</div>
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The United Kingdom Government remains, and will continue to remain, committed to protecting and promoting Gibraltar’s interests, working closely with the Government of Gibraltar. I am sure Lieutenant-General Davis will make a vital contribution to our joint efforts.</div>
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Below from The Vox - http://www.vox.gi/local/9893-swearing-in-address-by-lt-gen-edward-davis-cb-cbe.html</div>
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<a href="http://www.vox.gi/local/9893-swearing-in-address-by-lt-gen-edward-davis-cb-cbe.html" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s linear; visibility: visible;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #e3231d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">SWEARING-IN</span> ADDRESS BY LT-GEN EDWARD DAVIS CB CBE</a></h1>
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Super User</div>
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Published on Tuesday, 19 January 2016 20:59</div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thank you, Mr Speaker, Chief Justice, Chief Minister and Leader of the Loyal Opposition for your warm and generous welcome here in the Chamber of the Gibraltar Parliament, the heart of Gibraltarian Democracy. </strong></div>
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A Democracy that, as I look out over today’s troubled world, stands proud as a bastion of the enduring British values of freedom, tolerance, responsibility and respect for the rule of law. <br /><br />May I, first, take the opportunity to congratulate the Chief Minister and the GSLP-Liberal Alliance on their recent re-election to Government. Having arrived at the outset of a new Parliamentary term, I look forward to working throughout the current Government’s tenure with the Chief Minister and the Honorable Members of Government and the Loyal Opposition in the best interests of the People of Gibraltar. <br /><br />Serving the United Kingdom is my passion. Being appointed our Sovereign’s Representative in Gibraltar is a unique and singular privilege. It is a seminal moment in my life. Accordingly, it is with the utmost sense of honour and responsibility that I have just taken the oaths of allegiance and due execution, to Her Majesty the Queen, and been sworn in as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar. <br /><br />In doing so, I pledge to do everything within my Constitutional role to ensure the sovereignty, security and success of Gibraltar. Equally, my wife and I pledge to do everything within our collective capacity and resolution to help progress and promote Gibraltar’s vital advantages: its people and environment. Earnest undertakings we both relish.<br /><br />In making this joint commitment, Lorraine and I are particularly looking forward to sharing our lives with the open, friendly and compassionate People of Gibraltar; a few of whom we have been fortunate enough to meet during visits to the Rock throughout my 35 years of service in the Royal Marines. We are, however, both well aware, that we have barely skimmed the surface of the true spirit and substance of Gibraltar. We have a great deal to learn about Gibraltar’s heritage, culture, society and commerce; in short, we are very much looking forward to learning about the Gibraltarian way of life.<br /><br />As our top priority, we want to get to know, and listen to, as broad a cross-section of the People of Gibraltar as is possible so we can grow to understand their hopes and fears for the future. A much-anticipated prospect; as having spoken to a number of our predecessors over the last 4 months, it is abundantly clear that “to know the people of Gibraltar, is to deeply admire, respect and enjoy them”. Lorraine and I have no doubt we will feel exactly the same. <br /><br />I am especially proud that it is another Royal Marine taking over as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief. I know that every man and woman in the Royal Marines Corps regards having a Royal Marine appointed as Governor as a source of great Regimental pride. The word ‘Gibraltar’ is on the Cap Badge of every Royal Marine in recognition of the Corps’ first great battle honour awarded for the capture and defence of the Rock over 311 years ago; and, equally significant, the Corps is honoured to hold the distinction of being able to exercise the Freedom of the City. Manifest proof that the People of Gibraltar and the Royal Marines enjoy the priceless bond of mutual understanding, trust and respect forged over hundreds of years of shared endeavour. It is a bond I intend to strengthen in my role as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. <br /><br />From all that I have heard and read about Gibraltar in recent months, I judge that the support of the United Kingdom for the Government for Gibraltar and its People has never been stronger or more openly expressed. A contention that was underscored by the Foreign Secretary, when he said recently that “the people of Gibraltar have an inviolable right to remain British, and the United Kingdom Government would respect that right for as long as the people of the Rock wish that to be so”. <br /><br />Nonetheless, I would like to use this occasion of my Swearing-In as Governor and Commander-in-Chief to reaffirm the United Kingdom’s Government’s assurances on sovereignty underpinned by the Gibraltarian People’s right of self-determination. <br /><br />The Constitutional commitment of the United Kingdom is clear: Her Majesty’s Government will “never enter into arrangements under which the People of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely, and democratically expressed, wishes”. Furthermore, Her Majesty’s Government has also declared, publicly and repeatedly, that “it would never enter a process of negotiation about the sovereignty of the Rock without the Gibraltar Government’s consent”. <br /><br />Accordingly, my touchstone principles, as Gibraltar progresses confidently forward, will be: the People of Gibraltar’s inalienable right of self-determination; and, the upholding of the commitment to secure the People of Gibraltar’s consent in all matters that pertain to the sovereignty of Gibraltar. <br /><br />Mr Speaker, I have listened intently to the words of the Chief Minister and the Honorable Leader of the Opposition from the day my appointment was confirmed and, especially so, here today in the Chamber. I share their view that Gibraltar has made remarkable progress over recent years in developing its system of governance, its security and environmental resilience, and its prosperity. I also unequivocally support their keen determination to make Gibraltar’s relationship with Spain as mutually respectful and gainful as it could, and should, be. <br /><br />More widely, I look forward to working with all parties involved in the leadership of Gibraltar to ensure that Gibraltar remains on its mettle to protect, progress and promote itself in a world of the growing global threats to our values, freedoms, security and prosperity. Risks that I know the People of Gibraltar will tackle with their characteristic resolve and innovation. Risks that I know the Gibraltar Government will overcome with continued patient, pragmatic and persistent enterprise and outreach. But we must not be complacent. <br /><br />Since the moment my appointment as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar was confirmed, Lorraine and I have become increasingly enthused and excited at the prospect of making Gibraltar our home for the next four years. The truly moving and humbling welcome we have received today bears testament to the fact that our belief in the warmth and kindness of the People of Gibraltar was, indeed, well founded. We look forward to continuing to enjoy, and be enriched, by this selfless warmth and kindness as we strive to serve the People of Gibraltar to the best of our ability. A most special honour.<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">Mr Speaker, I am delighted to be able to conclude with a message from Her Majesty The Queen who has asked me to convey to the People of Gibraltar Her continuing gratitude for the loyalty of the people of Gibraltar and Her best wishes on the occasion of the swearing in of the 27th Governor of Gibraltar during Her reign.</span><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #6e6e6e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So let us all give our new Governor <span style="line-height: 25px;">Lieutenant-General Edward Davis and his Wife Lindsay a warm welcome.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b0c0c;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Let us show him the true Gibraltarian spirit and way of life and ensure that we make very clear no colonial attitude is welcome. Let us show the true British Gibraltarian identity as a people that we are and proud to be bilingual and British!</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></span></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-7729602127583505432015-08-03T21:19:00.001+02:002015-08-03T21:19:04.973+02:00Governor calls on Spanish authorities to acknowledge "gravity" of incursion<h2>
Governor calls on Spanish authorities to acknowledge "gravity" of incursion</h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will keep adding the pressure that is needed so that the people in Gibraltar do not have to fear using their pleasure boats or swimming in our waters!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The UK Government and the FCO keep trying to downplay the incursions as they reiterate they are not acts of war!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we agree the incursions may not be acts of war - what do you call them instead?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever one chooses to call them, they are both <b>illegal and dangerous.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We welcome the statement from Sir James Dutton that clearly leaves no doubt on the seriousness of these incursions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now this is the sort of statement that we expect from Our Governor and Ex-Royal Marine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what we need is <b>action not words!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The questions we must ask is - why didn't the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RGP or the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Navy make an arrest?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is stopping them? THE FCO say it is up to RGP? But is it really? What is going on behind the scenes that we do not know about?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This incursion is a clear violation so how can you expect people to respect the laws if those who break it from another country are not made to face the consequences of their acts!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy www.gbc.gi</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Video Footage of the incursions - https://youtu.be/jHLS4NKtHCk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">The Governor, Sir James Dutton, has called on the Spanish authorities to acknowledge the gravity of the actions of the crew of a Spanish state vessel that carried out an incursion into Gibraltar Waters on Saturday, and to take all necessary steps to ensure there is no repetition. Meanwhile the Government says this is another glaringly obvious example of a Spanish state vessel attempting to assert its authority well-inside our territorial limits. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a statement, Number Six confirms that at around six thirty on Saturday afternoon the Spanish Customs vessel, 'Aguila IV', chased a Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and inside the demarcated buoys at Camp Bay. The vessel was about one nautical mile off Europa Point when it was circled by the SVA launch and the occupants, who claim to have been fishing at the time, asked to produce documentation. They took refuge in the area of Camp Bay and called for help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spanish patrol boat returned to Spain when the RGP, GDP and Royal Navy launches arrived and warnings were read. The Spanish authorities claimed the pleasure boat had been off Estepona and failed to stop when asked to do so. The pleasure craft was escorted to the Marine Base where the occupants said they'd run away for fear of being boarded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Acting Chief Minister, Doctor Joseph Garcia said: "It could hardly be clearer that the vessel had no jurisdiction to operate at Europa Point and even less a few metres from a beach at Camp Bay." He adds that quite apart from the serious political issues, the incident also raises the dangers of a state vessel operating within a demarcated bathing area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This view has been echoed by the Governor, who has expressed serious concern about the incident. Sir James Dutton says the manoeuvres carried out by the Spanish vessel just metres from the shoreline were irresponsible and dangerous, as well as unlawful. He says they presented a significant risk to the safety of the public, adding that under no circumstances should Spanish vessels be provoking a situation that could result in serious injury or a fatality.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sir James says that while the UK's sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters is not affected by such incursions, their repeated occurrence is nevertheless unlawful and unacceptable. He confirms that the British Government will be protesting this latest incident directly with the Spanish Government.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Opposition have stated:</span><br />
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not enough" done by British Government to ensure incursions cease</h3>
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The Opposition says the incursion on Saturday had all the hallmarks of a potential tragedy. It points out it happened when Camp Bay was full of bathers enjoying what is supposed to be a safe area. The opposition believes the incident illustrates that not enough is being done by the British Government to ensure these illegal activities cease. It believes it is obvious that any diplomatic pressure being exerted is having <b>little effect and that sooner or later there will be a tragic accident.</b></div>
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Opposition Leader Daniel Feetham asks whether the British Government would tolerate these repeated incursions off the Coast of Portsmouth, when UK residents were being put at risk.The defence of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, he says, is a matter for the British Government and not our local law enforcement agencies.</div>
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The Opposition says it stands squarely behind the law enforcement agencies on this issue, adding they do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances. It adds that as with lobbying in Spain, attendance at the UN and the Brexit Referendum, the Opposition is prepared to work with the Government</div>
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Photo below - courtesy YGYV</div>
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<img height="360" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L52NNpCVw9M/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<b>Defenders of Gibraltar do a lot of campaigning behind the scenes to help raise the awareness of the issues we face.</b></div>
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<b>We will continue until such time as the Foreign office and the UK Government do what is our right and their responsibility - Defend British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</b></div>
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Below is one of our recent outcome as captured by GBC News</div>
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Courtesy of www,gbc.gi - http://www.gbc.gi/news/foreign-office-tells-defenders-gibraltar-incursions-are-not-acts-war-30158</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Foreign Office has written to the Defenders of Gibraltar, after the Group highlighted Incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. In the letter, it says, the British Government, from the prime Minister down, is working extremely hard to protect and assert the rights of Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in the EU and broader International contexts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It reiterates the naval mission is constantly assessed, adding it does not rule out any measures that are necessary to defend Gibraltar from a genuine threat to its security or defence. However, it goes on to say, it remains the British Government's view that the maritime incursions we have seen so far, carry no such threat and although a violation of sovereignty and a misguided attempt to assert Spain's longstanding claim that the waters around Gibraltar are Spanish,-they are not acts of war or military aggression. It adds it's the Foreign Office's assessment that the current MOD resource in Gibraltar is equal to its tasking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Group has also highlighted Saturdays incident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A copy of the correspondence may be viewed below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HI</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly thank you for your reply. However, we have to raise that yet again yesterday we had another dangerous incursion in our Bathing areas. Please contact our Governor for more information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My question to you all is - Will you all wait for a death before you actually take action? The incursion commenced off Europa POint with our locals using their pleasure boats and ended up on our shorelines on our western side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE Spanish SVA actually entered the demarcated swimming areas! THis is yet another dangerous act of breaking our laws!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time the RGP and the Naval Gibraltar Squadron arrived, they had already endangered the lives of those on the pleasure boats and the swimmers! Remember that before they entered the bathing area the navy squadron had already given them radio warnings to leave Gibraltar Territorial Waters! But they did not go out until the issue escalated to the beaches on the western side!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all now extremely worried on the amount of incursions and the lack of actions by you all. DO we have to be afraid to use our own pleasure boats and go swimming in our waters because none of you want to do the right thing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All evidence is here - <a href="https://mail.gbc.gi/owa/news@gbc.gi/14.3.224.2/scripts/premium/redir.aspx?SURL=hVWHw_JiH17a5qxKxigtwU5skULD8IeY4fzdP-E3K85zE-ZdP5vSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AZABlAGYAZQBuAGQAZQByAHMAbwBmAGcAaQBiAHIAYQBsAHQAYQByAC4AYgBsAG8AZwBzAHAAbwB0AC4AYwBvAG0ALwAyADAAMQA1AC8AMAA4AC8AcwBwAGEAbgBpAHMAaAAtAGEAdQB0AGgAbwByAGkAdABpAGUAcwAtAGUAbgB0AGUAcgAtAGcAaQBiAHIAYQBsAHQAYQByAC4AaAB0AG0AbAA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fdefendersofgibraltar.blogspot.com%2f2015%2f08%2fspanish-authorities-enter-gibraltar.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d9bd5; text-decoration: none !important; transition: all 0.5s ease;">http://defendersofgibraltar.blogspot.com/2015/08/spanish-authorities-enter-gibraltar.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are not asking for a war - but we are demanding protection! This is our right!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please ensure some action is done before we have a death and you will all be held responsible for the negligence in this matter!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope to hear some plan of action from you despite it is summer break!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chairperson for Defenders of Gibraltar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 31 JULY 2015 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Ms Struggles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your email of 5th July about incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW). I have been asked to reply as a member of the Gibraltar Team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The UK Government, from the Prime Minister down, is working extremely hard to protect and assert the rights of Gibraltar and Gibraltarians in the EU and broader international contexts. The Government remains unreservedly resolute in its commitment never to enter into arrangements under which UK sovereignty over Gibraltar would pass to another State against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, and not to enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. This “double-lock” on sovereignty is the keystone of our policy on Gibraltar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlawful incursions into BGTW, are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty and we protest them as such to the government of Spain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Royal Gibraltar Police are responsible for upholding the law in BGTW while the Royal Navy is responsible for upholding sovereignty over BGTW. Both the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and the Royal Gibraltar Police will continue to carry out their responsibilities within BGTW, responding to any incidents as appropriate including challenging unlawful maritime incursions within BGTW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The naval mission, its assets and people required to deliver it are re assed on regular basis, so that responsibilities can be carried out effectively. We do not rule out any measures that are necessary to defend Gibraltar from a genuine threat to its security or defence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, it remains the Government’s view that the maritime incursions we have seen so far have carried no such threat. Although they are a violation of sovereignty - and a misguided attempt to assert Spain’s longstanding claim that the waters around Gibraltar are Spanish - they are not acts of war or military aggression. And they do not weaken or undermine the legal basis for British sovereignty over Gibraltar, including BGTW. It is also our assessment that the current MoD resource in Gibraltar is equal to our tasking (though this is subject to continuous review).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stand ready to do whatever is required to protect Gibraltar’s sovereignty, economy and security. We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, Gibraltar and the United Kingdom to avoid incidents such as this that damage the prospects for establishing dialogue and cooperation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mediterranean Department </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5TH JULY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear SIr/ Madam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please pass on this letter to the following people:</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rt Hon David Lidington MP</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Duddridge MP</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tobias Ellwood MP</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We would like to raise our concern on the lack of action on defending the Gibraltar from the constant incursions by Spanish Paramilitary Guardia Civil and the State research vessels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not the first time and you have the statistics of this year alone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are outraged by the lack of action and we would like to know why this lack of action in protecting the Integrity of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I attach the photos taken of the recent one but I invite you to view our blog to keep up to date to your lack of action and the consequences of that!</span></div>
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<a href="https://mail.gbc.gi/owa/news@gbc.gi/14.3.224.2/scripts/premium/redir.aspx?SURL=dvJwFEUMDy9w2IZ5QExBu8u7vPAFlf0nvs_JCQRd7-9zE-ZdP5vSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AZABlAGYAZQBuAGQAZQByAHMAbwBmAGcAaQBiAHIAYQBsAHQAYQByAC4AYgBsAG8AZwBzAHAAbwB0AC4AYwBvAG0A&URL=http%3a%2f%2fdefendersofgibraltar.blogspot.com" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d9bd5; text-decoration: none !important; transition: all 0.5s ease;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">http://defendersofgibraltar.blogspot.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you waiting for an accident or a death at sea? We will hold you account to any loss of life or injury caused to the non protective action you have continued to stand for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gibraltar deserves to be protected and we are not 3rd class British citizens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen to the recent incursion the audio is clear and the probe hit the Royal Navy Rhib!</span></div>
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<a href="https://mail.gbc.gi/owa/news@gbc.gi/14.3.224.2/scripts/premium/redir.aspx?SURL=2FyoKRBzPU6qPvcYkyh5Eg4F4GHOzV723E7Ie5KB9YJzE-ZdP5vSCGgAdAB0AHAAcwA6AC8ALwB5AG8AdQB0AHUALgBiAGUALwBZAE0ARABfAGoARwBDADYAZABVAG8A&URL=https%3a%2f%2fyoutu.be%2fYMD_jGC6dUo" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d9bd5; text-decoration: none !important; transition: all 0.5s ease;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">https://youtu.be/YMD_jGC6dUo</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are failing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ask you take action now and we would like a response as soon as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind Regards</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anne-Marie Struggles<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Chairperson<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Defenders of Gibraltar Group</span></strong><span style="color: white; line-height: 11.4285717010498px;">**What</span></div>
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***** </div>
<br />Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-37310149092126696532015-08-02T14:05:00.000+02:002015-08-02T14:19:07.847+02:00Spanish Authorities enter Gibraltar waters within the demarcated swimming areas!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spanish Authorities enter Gibraltar waters within the demarcated swimming areas!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes once again we have the Spanish authorities trying to assert authority in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy of a friend</span><br />
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<img height="352" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/11696391_10155992411420347_6969520720977797922_o.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<img height="343" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11221876_10155992407820347_4767096829995351444_o.jpg" width="640" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<img height="337" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/t31.0-8/11226071_10155992412610347_6418515708079274554_o.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<img height="361" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11262208_10155992411720347_2391024401760844642_o.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a serious incident! Are we going to wait for a death to happen!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Incursion into BGTW: "Unacceptable and Unwarranted." The Governor personally discusses an "appropriate diplomatic response" with London.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what will the action be by our Governor and FCO and our Government? WORDS, WORDS and MORE WORDS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Words mean nothing! Words with action do!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It is about time that Spanish authority vessels are captured and arrested and let it go to the international courts!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Doing nothing but words is going to lead to an accident or worse a death!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is one video capturing this incursion!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>https://youtu.be/jHLS4NKtHCk</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Another video </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- https://www.facebook.com/100005350545096/videos/o.266886966744455/423824807805867/?type=2&theater</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GBC news reports.. www.gbc.gi </span><br />
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'Serious' Incursion by Spanish SVA: Governor takes it up with London</h1>
<a class="overlay-wrapper overlay-hover main-image" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d9bd5; display: block; margin-bottom: 15px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="img-full" src="http://www.gbc.gi/uploads/news/FJnl8_image.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle; width: 636.642883300781px;" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Governor is discussing with London an appropriate diplomatic response to an incursion by a Spanish State vessel on Saturday afternoon. Sir James Dutton says he's followed the reports of the incident closely and has been fully briefed by both the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Royal Navy. He's told GBC, it's clear that this has been an "unacceptable and unwarranted" incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by a Spanish State Vessel. The Foreign Office will also be making representations to London and Madrid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, the Government said: " This is another glaringly obvious example of a Spanish state vessel attempting to assert its authority well inside our territorial limits."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Statement from Number Six confirms that at around six thirty on Saturday afternoon, the Spanish Customs vessel, 'Aguila IV', chased a Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and inside the demarcated buoys at Camp Bay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pleasure boat, had been stationed about one nautical mile off Europa point, when it was circled by the SVA, and the occupants, who claim to have been fishing, asked to produce documentation. It took refuge in the area of Camp Bay and called for assistance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SVA launch returned to Spain when the RGP, GDP and Royal Navy launches arrived and warnings were read. The Spanish Authorities claimed the pleasure boat had been off Estepona and had failed to stop when asked to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pleasure craft was escorted to the Marine Base where the occupants said they'd run away for fear of being boarded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Acting Chief Minister, Doctor Joseph Garcia says: " It could hardly be clearer that the vessels had no jurisdiction to operate at Europa Point and even less a few metres from a beach at Camp Bay." He adds that quite apart from the serious political issues, the incident also raises the dangers of a state vessel operating within a demarcated bathing area.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eyewitnesses report Spanish Servicio Vigilancia Aduanera</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">launch giving chase to pleasure craft inside buoys in Rosia </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292f33; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also MR KR states his opinion on Social Media</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To say that I am BEYOND INCENSED is the UNDERSTATEMENT of my 37 year old Gibraltarian life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guardia Civil (That's Spanish paramilitary) have this afternoon not just BREACHED INTERNATIONAL LAW by coming into British Gibraltar WATERS BUT ALSO Breached LOCAL LAW by having their patrol vessel coming into an area designated for SWIMMERS ONLY (with the dangers that accompany a fast launch coming into an area heavily populated with swimmers in a beach in Gibraltar on an August Summe<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">r's day at peak time), and acting like they have jurisdiction in British Gibraltar!!!!!!!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How VERY DARE THEY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They dare so because the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, under which Gibraltar and our Security comes under, have ALLOWED THEM TO by ALLOWING HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF BREACHES AND INCURSIONS into BRITISH GIBRALTAR WATERS for the past few years.</span></div>
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They dare so, because the CONVENT, seat of the Governor, HM The Queen's Rep in Gibraltar HAS FAILED to PRESSURE the FCO INTO ACTION.</div>
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They DARE SO because OUR Government HAS FAILED TO PRESSURE the CONVENT into putting on the PRESSURE on the FCO.<br />
They dare so, because the British Government, the FCO and the Convent have been laughing in our faces, treating us like FOOLS, DISRESPECTING US - THE GIBRALTARIANS all for the sake of keeping GOOD RELATIONS with SPAIN, a HOSTILE NATION that OPTS TO BULLY the GIBRALTARIANS on the basis that we ARE and HAVE CHOSEN to REMAIN BRITISH.</div>
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My question - with so many lawyers in Parliament, quien va ser el guapo o la guapa who will bother to sit down, analyse the situation, and prepare a LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT for NEGLECTING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY to PROTECT Gibraltar and ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR Gibraltar's SECURITY????? Doing so will NOT make us any LESS British if anyone is worried of that - it is merely calling on them for FAILING US!</div>
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Aqui que somos tontos o que pasa???? If this were the 70s or 80s, Gibraltarians would have taken to the street to demonstrate!!!! WHY ARE WE ALLOWING OURSELVES to be TREATED like Second Class, or worse, FOOLS???!! I don't know about the rest, but I certainly don't like it when I am treated like a FOOL! (See David Cameron's national Day Message and also HM Queen's Message about Security in Gibraltar).<br />
Our ANCESTORS who FOUGHT SO MUCH WOULD BE SO ASHAMED RIGHT NOW!</div>
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Perhaps, since our Nation ranks so well in terms of finance, we SHOULD start PAYING FOR OUR OWN SECURITY?!</div>
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@KevGibraltar </div>
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Republished on Speak Freely and also via @KevGibraltar. </div>
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<br />
RAISING the GIBRALTARIAN VOICE WHEN WE ARE DISRESPECTED!</div>
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Gibraltar Government Press Release</div>
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BREAKING PRESS RELEASE FROM No6: SPANISH STATE VESSEL IN CAMP BAY</div>
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A serious incursion took place yesterday evening when a Spanish state vessel attempted to assert its authority, not only inside BGTW, but within a few metres of the shoreline.At around 1830, a Spanish customs vessel (SVA), the Aguila IV, chased a Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat within BGTW and inside the demarcated buoys at Camp Bay. </div>
<div style="line-height: 15.4559993743896px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The pleasure boat had been stationary about 1 nautical mile off Europa Poin<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">t when it was circled by the SVA which had approached from the Bay making its way past the North Mole.It had earlier been given the UNCLOS warning over radio and did not respond.</span></div>
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When approached by launches from RGP and GDP and by a Navy RHIB, the crew of the Spanish vessel claimed that, earlier, the pleasure boat had been off Estepona and had failed to stop when asked to do so.</div>
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Having been informed that it had no jurisdiction inside BGTW, the Aguila IV was then escorted into Spanish waters. The two occupants of the pleasure boat later claimed when questioned that they were fishing off Europa Point when the SVA vessel had requested their documentation. They had moved into Camp Bay and called for assistance.</div>
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'This is another glaringly obvious example of a Spanish state vessel attempting to assert its authority well inside our territorial limits. It could hardly be clearer that the vessel had no jurisdiction to operate at Europa Point and even less just a few metres from a beach at Camp Bay,' said the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia. 'Quite apart from the serious political issues raised by this matter, it is also dangerous for a state vessel to operate in this way inside a demarcated bathing area. <b>This is illegal in the face of internationally-recognised Laws of the Sea.'</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12.8640003204346px;">(Photo courtesy Tania Pereira.)</span></div>
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<img src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11813406_1026941697318176_1644669426284286735_n.jpg?oh=c7757ecb91280985d5537e31419c2184&oe=56360D13" /></div>
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This should not be allowed! Wake up Gibraltar! Before it is too late and one of our own is injured or die!</div>
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<b>As reported by another Social Media Post Vadar Boats</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Today's chase!! I saw 3 or 4 boats fishing just of europa point, all of a sudden the Augila IV (spanish aduana boat) started to approach one of the local fishing boats in the area at a very high speed, for what i saw the to men onboard the local fishing boat got intimidated by the Augila IV and started making way to a safe haven in the bay of Gibraltar. Augila IV continued intimidating the local fishing boat even inside the saftey bouys at camp bay.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"> I was meters away from the local fishing boat at the scene at camp bay and it was clear that it was only two lads who were trying to enjoy a peaceful day out at sea fishing and totaly spoiled by the Spanish authorities in British Gibraltar Waters!!!</span></div>
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<img height="360" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11817272_1507436372880320_2710195918715073144_n.jpg?oh=f6efe6da34183d2de938a59620b1f904&oe=565C0793" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do we have to be afraid to use our pleasure boats in </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>our </b></span><b style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">own waters?</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why is the FCO so adamant to only send paper protests? - </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">we want action and we want it now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I guess getting the Queen to visit Spain is more </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>important than the lives of the British people in </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gibraltar!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How ignorant are the FCO and the UK Government on </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>the issues affecting Gibraltar!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How can they think - </b></span><span style="color: black; line-height: normal;">EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Will an old queen and a young king be able to heal the festering UK/Spain dispute over Gibraltar?</span></div>
</span><span style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3178086/EPHRAIM-HARDCASTLE-old-queen-young-king-able-heal-festering-UK-Spain-dispute-Gibraltar.html#ixzz3hesowJAd" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3178086/EPHRAIM-HARDCASTLE-old-queen-young-king-able-heal-festering-UK-Spain-dispute-Gibraltar.html#ixzz3hesowJAd</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=MailOnline" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@MailOnline on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=DailyMail" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DailyMail on Facebook</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The problem with SPAIN and Gibraltar is that UK does </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>nothing to stop the bully that SPAIN is! A bully only </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>stops when you force the boundaries and they suffer </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>the consequences!</b></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-80709176908434134432015-07-28T08:29:00.001+02:002015-07-28T20:24:17.911+02:00Queues to enter Gibraltar - 7:30am The queue to come into Gibraltar!<h2>
Queues to enter Gibraltar - 7:30am The queue to come into Gibraltar.</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new day but unfortunately a bad start to the day for cross frontier workers who walk into Gibraltar from Spain. Many fearing to be late - all due to t he political inadequacies of a Spanish Government who are full intent in causing queues while they test their technology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pic below courtesy DB</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">THIS IS THE STRANGLEHOLD SPAIN CONTINUES TO HAVE ON US....</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">THEY ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO BORDER CONTROLS BECAUSE GIB IS NOT IN SCHENGEN & CUSTOMS UNION</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">UK IS NOT IN SCHENGEN BUT YES IN CUSTIMS UNION.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">UK IS AN ISLAND AND SCHENGEN WORKS WELL FOR UK</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">BUT GIB CANNOT REMAIN OUT OF SCHENGEN.</span><br />
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<img height="177" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11703090_739466779509061_1879744986912180052_n.jpg?oh=06555beabd1cc3e69b90711be4cddac1&oe=5613EA48" width="640" /><br />
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Pic below from Social Media groups<br />
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<img src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11800282_10153490371476944_4492216131030232285_n.jpg?oh=e5ab52da244fdfabd53f97ac5bacabb3&oe=56510A15" /></div>
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<img src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11709750_10153490371371944_6997426892423887766_n.jpg?oh=a7e06f47abff06265164693ab75d35d3&oe=5640E138" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AS you all know the Police and Guardia Civil are already complaining of being short-staffed! How can that be? Were the Government and leaders not aware that this was going to happen? Were they not aware of having to increase the man power to deal with this technology that they have imposed on themselves?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11811556_10155737692185276_4753507251933088515_n.jpg?oh=1a51788552b84d040e3d109d72441db7&oe=56567439" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe you me they have known - do know and have planned it to be - that is to cause as much of a disruption as possible! To cause as much inconvenience as they can. But it will get worse - wait until they start on bicycles, motorcycles and all vehicles soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even those sympathisers who use the example of queues in UK airports when you travel - you know it is wrong! There is no reason for this as we are talking about very few visitors or tourists but rather about continuous crossings of people who live in Spain but work in Gibraltar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spain wants to capture - and rightly so those who live there and pay no taxes! But please do not use the frontier for that - do what every other EU country is doing - sign an agreement with Gibraltar Government to exchange information!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11822450_10155737692300276_546536873213830606_n.jpg?oh=7d510b4f96b6bd1cccbc37a580f1c58a&oe=56406BC9" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they will not as they are only pretending to care - they want Gibraltar to be theirs - that is the bottom line and do not be blinded by the lies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will not give in to workers leaving Gibraltar in a special queue that discriminates against locals and tourist - especially with many elderly- children and vulnerable people!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11695991_10155737692375276_1425798899835811907_n.jpg?oh=76623c3b276f94942c8f542737b58e39&oe=560EFA5B" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if Spain is trying to pressure the EU to pressure our Government to allow a queue just for cross frontier workers- they better think again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Defenders of Gibraltar will stand up against any discrimination or favouritism at the expense of all other people who are just as important to our ECONOMY - OUR TOURISTS! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the Spanish Government and the EU I ask that you show more humanity towards people by testing the new technology at a better time to cause least inconvenience to people and above all increase your staffing levels!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Special thanks to JF for the photos!</span></div>
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Anne-Marie Struggles</div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-62673723250209125142015-07-27T21:11:00.003+02:002015-07-27T21:52:30.149+02:00Queues continue to be created in the heat by Spain while they test the new Technology at the busiest times!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Queues continue to be created in the heat by Spain while they test the new Technology at the busiest times!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spanish Government have ordered the testing of the new technology to be done at the busiest time for Cross Frontier Workers walking to work and back home .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is now affecting not only tourists which is vital to our economy but now cross frontier workers and locals who want to either go to work or go to Spain for July Fair in La Linea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is the pic taken at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not right - these queues are not seen in UK airports or the entrance and exit from France to Dover!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The excuse that UK is not in Schenghen is not acceptable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough excuses and the EU need to stand up and take note just like our UK Government must!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YGTV - http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/politics/9746-jul-27-government-spain-causes-maximum-disruption-at-border</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jul 27 Government: “Spain Causes Maximum
Disruption At Border”
Monday, 27 July 2015 20:13
The Gibraltar Office in Brussels has today
been asked to relay information to the
European Commission on the latest
pedestrian delays at the border caused by
the introduction of an Automated Border
Control system on the Spanish side.
Number Six says that these systems are
designed to improve the fluidity of traffic
across borders adding that “they are not
meant to make things worse.”
The Government received initial reports that the Policia Nacional started testing the new
system on 16 July at around 12 noon. This created a queue of about 30 minutes for persons
to enter Gibraltar on foot. Given the problem, at around 2pm on that day the Spanish
authorities ended the tests. These problems arose again at the end of last week when the
Policia Nacional started testing the system again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem, argues the Government, is
that they chose to do so at peak time for persons exiting Gibraltar creating delays of up to an
hour in the process. This caused considerable disruption to many people, including the elderly
and children, who were stuck in a queue to enter Spain in over 30 degrees of heat.
The Government has described the scenes at the border as “shocking and unacceptable.”
The tests continued over the weekend and caught up people who were going to the fair in La
Linea on their way out of Gibraltar, and again in the early hours when they returned home
27/07/2015 Jul 27 Government: “Spain Causes Maximum Disruption At Border”
http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/politics/9746jul27governmentspaincausesmaximumdisruptionatborder 2/6
from the fair. This morning a 30 minute delay started at 7.40am which affected workers and
others coming into Gibraltar.
Number Six says that, whilst these have been more recent developments, it should be
remembered that, over a period of months, the Spanish authorities also failed to notify
Gibraltar in a timely manner of the border changes to their infrastructure, traffic lanes and
vehicle checks. In short, says the Government, “they have chosen not to behave as European
partners once again.”
Commenting on the latest disruption at the border, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph
Garcia said:
“The arrival of the tourist season once again coincides with disruption and delays at the
border generated by the Spanish authorities. This time it is the manner in which Spain has
chosen to implement its infrastructure changes that has caused the problem. This is a serious
political problem but it also has a very real human dimension. There are thousands of people
who live in Spain and who work in Gibraltar who are once again being caught up in these
unacceptable delays. Those affected also includes tourists. The irony is that the majority of
those affected are Spanish citizens and that it is their own Government that is inflicting this
hardship upon them.
“In normal circumstances, is only to be expected that such a major change, which affects
thousands of people every day, would at the very least have been the subject of a public
information campaign on the part of Spain in order to create awareness among those persons
who cross the border on a daily basis. This has not happened which means that the element
of surprise has served to compound an already serious situation.
“The Government will continue to expose Spanish actions at the border for as long as it is
necessary. A fuller report, with photographs, statistics and media cuttings will follow what has
already been sent to Brussels.”</span><br />
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GBC.gi<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 11.4285717010498px;">Government</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 11.4285717010498px;"> to complain to European Commssion about latest pedestrian border queues</span></h1>
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The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Joseph Garcia, will be complaining to the European Commission about the latest pedestrian queues caused by Spain’s new electronic gates. Last week electronic passport readers were introduced at the frontier and this has been causing delays.</div>
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With Spanish authorities testing the new security equipment at the frontier, during peak queuing times, pedestrian queues built up to an hour waiting time on Monday morning.</div>
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The new electronic gates are part of Spain’s commitment to reduce queues following the European Commission’s recommendations last year. Pedestrians are requested to scan EU Compliant electronic passports or ID cards, their fingerprints, and use face recognition technology.</div>
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According to a Number Six press release, the manner in which the Spanish Government is implementing its new system seems to be designed to cause as much disruption as possible.</div>
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Last Thursday saw the worst pedestrian queues so far this summer, with tailbacks reaching back to the former airport terminal in scorching temperatures.</div>
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<img src="http://www.gbc.gi/uploads/news/IpU8z_11800360_1011270765590349_4476130068717552392_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></div>
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Source Gibraltar Chronicle<br />
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GOVT REPORTS ‘LONG QUEUES’ TO EU</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> The Gibraltar Government has included the long queues of Thursday afternoon at the frontier in its latest report to the EU. This was confirmed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia yesterday who said the report will be presented “in order to draw attention to the manner in which the Spanish government is implementing the recommendations made by the commission”.<br /><br />“The effects of these seem to be designed to cause as much disruption as possible,” added Dr Garcia.The picture shows the extent of the queue at the border on Thursday afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /><br />The queues which started on Thursday early afternoon began when the new passport e-gates at the frontier going into Spain became operational. At one point the waiting time was as long as 40 minutes in the heat of the afternoon, but there were reports of some people having to wait up to an hour and the queues lasting late into the evening.<br /><br />There were no queues reported yesterday.<br /><br />Meanwhile the reports to the EU by the Gibraltar Government are sent periodically and also carry photographic evidence.<br /><br />In a statement last night the Government said that whilst the Spanish authorities may claim that they were merely testing new security equipment at the frontier, the Gibraltar Government will stress that the equipment was being tested just at the time which would cause the maximum disruption.<br /><br />“The main impact of the delays was on persons who work in Gibraltar and who live in Spain, including many thousands of Spanish workers who commute in and out of Gibraltar every day, as well on people coming to Gibraltar on a tourism visit or on business,” said Dr Garcia adding that the consequence of the new systems being conducted by the Spanish authorities on pedestrians was felt particularly strongly by the elderly, young children and disabled persons in wheelchairs who were made to wait to cross the border from Gibraltar into Spain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER<br /><br />Meanwhile Europa Press yesterday said Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz had visited the port of Algeciras on Thursday to see at first hand the new intelligence system in place.<br /><br />Commenting on the new operation at the border he explained how following the recommendations of the European Union, the Spanish Government had installed the system “to facilitate the transit of people and vehicles to Gibraltar.”<br /><br />He told Europa Press: “it is operating normally and one hundred percent.”<br /><br />He further explained that the system had first come into play at the border earlier than the commitment made by Spain to the EU.<br /><br />He explained there were 13 booths installed in the area.<br /><br />Fernandez Diaz insisted its operation was” operating a hundred percent” and that had been made “before the agreed term.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Source from Panorama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spanish National Police complain of under staffing at frontier - and warn Spanish Govt of conflict<br />July 27, 2015<br />The Spanish National Police are complaining of under staffing at the frontier and are warning the Spanish Government of the conflicts that could arise unless the matter is urgently rectified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It follows what the Gibraltar Government itself has described as “disgraceful scenes” at the frontier last Thursday when, in temperatures above 35 degrees, long pedestrian queues ensued all the way back to the runway control barrier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Spanish National Police are in an oblique way effectively being supportive of what Gibraltar has witnessed. It is said that the Spanish director-general for the police had ordered that all the new filters at the frontier, 13 in total, be introduced forthwith, coinciding with a visit to the port of Algeciras by the Spanish interior minister as a similar ‘intelligent frontier’ system has been got going there as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But the police at the La Linea frontier are incensed that the go-ahead has been given without proper staffing. They say that 15 police officers are required at the frontier for the new system to work properly, when only seven per shift are in operation.<br />In order to ameliorate the problem, police were urgently sent to the frontier from other units operating in La Linea, with the consequent depletion of essential services elsewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The National Police at the frontier say they are suffering great stress given the circumstances under which they are expected to operate, which requires an urgent response from their relevant authorities including the interior ministry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What is known to the Spanish as the ‘intelligent frontier’ system is officially known by its English name, which is Automatic Border System.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spanish police are also complaining that this new system is being introduced without any type of information being provided to frontier users who daily cross the frontier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of two Spanish police unions also says that the A.B.C. system has been provided by a Portuguese company which has given them only one talk of some 2 hours explaining how the system works, with some of them claiming that they could not understand what it was all about as the person giving the talk was not too conversant with the Spanish language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It would appear that neither the police nor the public, have been fully briefed about the new system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Further, it could be that the system was suddenly given the go-ahead because the Spanish interior minister was in the area, as it turned out the minister visited the installations in the Algeciras port but did not bother to go to the La Linea frontier. It may have been too close to comfort to Gibraltar!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It could well be that, with the minister no longer in sight, the Spanish National Police headquarters in Madrid might tell La Linea to go back to normal and await further instructions. . .time will tell what exactly is going on. . .but certainly it is not as easy as A.B.C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">27-07-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where is the EU now - so much for the EU visits of the Commission and the EU JUstice! When will they learn that Spain is only after Gibraltar and will do anything to cause bad propaganda and try to damage our economy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well SPAIN you will have to continue to wait as we will remain British forever!</span><br />
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Gerald StrugglesDefenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-89053030867362000532015-07-23T22:25:00.001+02:002015-07-23T22:25:27.507+02:00Spain creates a queue in 35 degrees heat to start testing and using the new Frontier ID and Passports egates!<h2>
35 degrees and hundreds standing for over an hour in the pedestrian queue!</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all for the new supposedly better and more modern technology! But honestly does Spain have to choose the hottest time and days in Summer to test it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The video is here - https://youtu.be/okM-FRo5RQo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They could have easily have began when the sun goes down and not like today from 3 - 7pm. The amount of people passing and in the scorching heat is just inhumane! This kind of behaviour should not go unnoticed by the Eu or UN Human Rights Watch.</span><br />
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<img height="480" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11755233_10153425644608830_5087630357628396155_n.jpg?oh=05c236bf6f936ea2861629606a3efaac&oe=564A59CD" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As one cross frontier worker rightly states in Spanish</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;">10 meses de obras para hacer la aduana mas transitable para que tenga que esperar 40 minutos antes de pasar por los escáneres donde por una habitación de 20 m2 por la que pasan 8000 personas me dan ganas de gritar del cuello de botella tan grande que se forma y nauseas por la falta de oxigenación .</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;">Sucks.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>**************</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">www.gbc.gi -</span></h4>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">http://www.gbc.gi/news/pedestrian-queues-spain-begins-testing-new-passport-e-gates-frontier-30091</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pedestrian queues at the border on Thursday evening were the worst yet this summer as Spanish border authorities have begun testing the new passport e-gates during peak queueing times.</span></div>
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<img class="img-full" src="http://www.gbc.gi/uploads/news/dqkjB_frontier_egate_2.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle; width: 638.857116699219px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new electronic gates are part of Spain’s commitment to reduce queues following the European Commission’s recommendations last year. Pedestrians are requested to scan EU compliant electronic passports or ID cards, their fingerprints, and use face recognition technology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sources have told GBC the Spanish authorities have been testing the gates for the last few days, but today they are being tested at peak times for pedestrians, leading to tailbacks which have reached back to the former airport terminal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pedestrians have been reporting queues of up to an hour to cross the frontier.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 14.6181812286377px;">Another commented on social media:</span></span></span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #666666; line-height: 14.6181812286377px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here I thought that all the new reformes down at the frontier were to provide a better faster service but here I am in a pedestrian queue stretching back to the old airport terminal small children included</span></span></div>
<img height="480" src="https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/11779827_10155818888350481_4102034431105354206_o.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One other cross worker goes on to say:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 14.6181812286377px;">Spain hates us. And all I do is go to work in Gibraltar to bring us the practice of the entirety of the salary to spend on the Spanish economy. You have to have</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; line-height: 14.6181812286377px;"> bad milk in madrid to order this on some of the more days hot of the year. I am sorry for the business where I normally spending the money, when this happens, I spent on money in Gibraltar and I am out later.</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; line-height: 14.6181812286377px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; line-height: 14.6181812286377px;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">España nos odia. Y lo unico que hacemos es ir a trabajar a Gibraltar para despues traernos la practica totalidad del sueldo para gastarlo en la economia Española. Hay que tener mala leche en Madrid para ordenar esto en unos de los dias mas calurosos del año. Lo siento por los negocios donde normalmente me gasto el dinero, cuando pasa esto, me gasto en dinero en Gibraltar y salgo luego.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Yet Spanish Newspapers report all is up and running and working?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Really then how come people had to stand in the scorching heat for hours today while they did a test run! Can someone out there explain that they must treat people with respect and test the technology at the least inconvenient time and at the most humane time that does not have people suffering like today!</b></span><br />
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FRONTERA DE LA LÍNEA</div>
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En cuanto a la Frontera Inteligente de La Línea de la Concepción, explica el ministro que, atendiendo las recomendaciones de la Unión Europea, ha sido instalada por el Gobierno de España para facilitar el tránsito de personas y vehículos a Gibraltar. Afirma que "está operando con normalidad y al cien por cien".</div>
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Detalla que "la frontera ha entrado en vigor en un plazo anterior al que España se comprometió con la UE". Explica que son 13 las cabinas instal<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">adas en la zona perteneciente al Estado español "y está permitiendo que hayamos cubierto el compromiso adquirido con las autoridades comunitarias".</span></div>
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Finalmente, Fernández Díaz insiste en que su funcionamiento es "operativo al cien por cien" y en que se ha logrado "antes del plazo comprometido".</div>
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<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.europasur.es%2Farticle%2Falgeciras%2F2077111%2Ffernandez%2Fdiaz%2Fvisita%2Fsistema%2Ffronteras%2Finteligentes%2Falgeciras.html%23.VbEOUatT2Zw.facebook&h=9AQGp5ben&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out; color: #141823; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Fernández Díaz visita el sistema de Fronteras Inteligentes en...</a></div>
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Fernández Díaz visita el sistema de Fronteras Inteligentes en Algeciras. . Se trata de un nuevo sistema implantado para agilizar el paso fronterizo de viajeros</div>
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EUROPASUR.ES</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Please we ask our UK Government to speak sense to Spanish Government to choose times when the sun is not a hazard to people standing in it - or will both governments only react when there is a death?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Remember the queues are for everyone and no-one is exempt - so workers and tourist and locals must join the same queue as that is the humane and just thing to do!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span><br />
<br />Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-77087564724226470892015-07-04T15:08:00.001+02:002015-07-04T15:12:17.798+02:00Royal Navy RHIB struck by a survey probe from a Spanish state research vessel on Friday in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Navy RHIB struck by a survey probe from a Spanish state research vessel on Friday in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again we find another dangerous incursions in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. This time not just by the Spanish Para military Guardia Civil but by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Spanish State Research Vessel - Angeles Alvarino - the research vessel attempted to take executive action in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, by trying to drop probes into the sea to take readings. One of these probes hit a Royal Navy patrol boat as it sought to prevent it. Royal Navy, Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Defence Police vessels were all dispatched to the scene, with a Guardia Civil patrol boat also called in by the survey vessel.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stand off of more than an hour was caught on photos and audio by many.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">What is our Government, Our Governor, Our FCO doing? Nothing only the normal - paper protests!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">I do believe until a person is badly injured or worse - is killed no-one anywhere will do anything!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">Where in any other Country is this behaviour accepted? What happened to arresting and enforcing the laws?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">Why is UK Government sacrificing the security of Gibraltar? UK Government has a duty and is failing - is this right?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">I ask you all from the many different countries that read our blog - would you tolerate this non action? Of course not! So why are we having to put up with this day in and day out?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">Our Governor - the FCO and the Navy also have failed us - so many warnings - so many protest!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">Everyone can see it and know about it? But who dares rock the boat? Not even our Own Government is doing anything about it! Is it not high time that Gibraltar hold a massive demonstration to ensure UK get the message loud and clear?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">"Do your duty and protect Gibraltar!"</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy Tommy Finlayson who managed to capture the best photos of the incident in question!</span></span></div>
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<img height="426" src="https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/11717337_10153049784466313_4473328695933915024_o.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also Courtesy OF Tommy Finlayson Audio of the incident</span></h4>
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<h1 class="yt watch-title-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; display: table-cell; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 824px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="watch-title " dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="INCURSION BY SPANISH SURVEY VESSEL ANGELES ALVARINO INTO GIBRALTAR WATERS"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal;">INCURSION BY SPANISH SURVEY VESSEL ANGELES ALVARINO INTO GIBRALTAR WATERS</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal;">https://youtu.be/YMD_jGC6dUo</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">3 JULY 2015 - Incursion by Spanish survey vessel Angeles Alvarino</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">Both the Government and the Convent have described as “unacceptable” an unlawful incursion, which saw a Royal Navy RHIB struck by a survey probe from a Spanish state research vessel on Friday. The Angeles Alvarino entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on more than one occasion this afternoon, in what the Government has called “a three-hour stand-off”.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">According to the Government, the Angeles Alvarino attempted to take executive action in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, by trying to drop probes into the sea to take readings: one of these hit a Royal Navy patrol boat as it sought to prevent it. Royal Navy, Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Defence Police vessels were all dispatched to the scene, with a Guardia Civil patrol boat also called in by the survey vessel.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">The Government describes the incident as “dangerous and reckless nonsense”, adding it marks the start of the summer season when the current Spanish Government uses Gibraltar as a distraction to divert attention from problems at home. It says it’s absurd that Spain should provoke an incident of this kind, engaging law enforcement vessels from both sides when there’s much more important work to be done in the fight against organised crime, human trafficking and terrorism.</span></span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">For its part, the Convent has reiterated its concern about the “dangerous manner” in which the Angeles Alvarino acted. In a statement, it said it’s very fortunate that no-one was hurt and that no serious damage was done, adding it’s made clear its disappointment that this was a repeat of a similar incident last October. The Convent says it’s protested the incursion directly to the Spanish authorities at a senior level, making clear that such violations of the UK’s sovereignty are unacceptable. It’s restated its position that such incursions do not weaken the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over BGTW.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">This recording contains footage recorded during the event. The audio is a series of clips recorded from Marine Band Channel 16 during the incursion.<br /><br />***************</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Courtesy GBC News</span></div>
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http://www.gbc.gi/news/incursion-spanish-survey-vessel-angeles-alvarino-29959</div>
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Incursion by Spanish survey vessel Angeles Alvarino</h1>
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Both the Government and the Convent have described as “unacceptable” an unlawful incursion, which saw a Royal Navy RHIB struck by a survey probe from a Spanish state research vessel on Friday. The Angeles Alvarino entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on more than one occasion this afternoon, in what the Government has called “a three-hour stand-off”.</div>
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According to the Government, the Angeles Alvarino attempted to take executive action in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, by trying to drop probes into the sea to take readings: one of these hit a Royal Navy patrol boat as it sought to prevent it. Royal Navy, Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Defence Police vessels were all dispatched to the scene, with a Guardia Civil patrol boat also called in by the survey vessel.</div>
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The Government describes the incident as “dangerous and reckless nonsense”, adding it marks the start of the summer season when the current Spanish Government uses Gibraltar as a distraction to divert attention from problems at home. It says it’s absurd that Spain should provoke an incident of this kind, engaging law enforcement vessels from both sides when there’s much more important work to be done in the fight against organised crime, human trafficking and terrorism.</div>
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For its part, the Convent has reiterated its concern about the “dangerous manner” in which the Angeles Alvarino acted. In a statement, it said it’s very fortunate that no-one was hurt and that no serious damage was done, adding it’s made clear its disappointment that this was a repeat of a similar incident last October. The Convent says it’s protested the incursion directly to the Spanish authorities at a senior level, making clear that such violations of the UK’s sovereignty are unacceptable. It’s restated its position that such incursions do not weaken the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over BGTW.</div>
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Courtesy Gibraltar Chronicle</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25px;">http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=36140</span></span></div>
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BRITAIN PROTESTS OVER ‘DANGEROUS’ INCURSION BY SPANISH SURVEY SHIP</h3>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by Brian Reyes</span></div>
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A Royal Navy speedboat received a blow from a heavy oceanographic probe as it tried to prevent a Spanish survey ship from taking readings in British waters yesterday.<br />
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No one was injured in the incident but the actions of the Spanish ship were described as “reckless and dangerous” and drew a rapid diplomatic protest from the British Government.<br />
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Chief Minister Fabian Picardo called for a “clear and robust” response from Britain to avoid any further repetition, even as he warned that such incidents could increase over the summer and in the run-up to Spain’s general election.</div>
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The research ship Ángeles Alvariño, operated by the Spanish oceanographic institute, was attempting to collect samples and readings inside British Gibraltar territorial waters.<br />
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The vessel – and others like it – has been here before in the past as part of Spain’s efforts to exert jurisdiction within a Spanish EU-designated nature site that overlaps into British waters.<br />
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Every time it enters, Royal Navy vessels in Gibraltar, together with other agencies, attend and prevent it from carrying out the research work, which is unlawful in British waters.<br />
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Within hours of the events at sea yesterday, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office had<br />
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lodged a formal protest at senior level with the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Madrid.<br />
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“We have protested the incursion directly to the Spanish authorities at a senior level, making clear that such violations of the UK’s sovereignty are unacceptable,” said a spokesman for The Convent.<br />
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“We have also reiterated our concern about the dangerous manner in which the Angeles Alvariño acted.”<br />
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“The vessel deployed a survey probe which struck a Royal Navy rigid inflatable hulled boat. It is very fortunate that no-one was hurt and no serious damage was done.”<br />
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“We made clear our disappointment that this was a repeat incident of the one in October last year.”
The incident had been closely monitored at a very senior level in Spain even prior to the British complaint. Just before 1pm, while the Spanish vessel was still in British waters off the Rock, Ignacio Ybañez, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, tweeted that the Ángeles Alvariño was conducting scientific studies “in Spanish waters in the bay of Algeciras”.<br />
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Yesterday’s incident unfolded in the Bay of Gibraltar and off Europa Point.<br />
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There was a tense stand-off involving the research ship, a Guardia Civil vessel and several vessels from Gibraltar, including patrol boats from the Royal Navy, the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Gibraltar Defence Police.<br />
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Navy personnel read out warnings to the Spanish vessel urging it to leave. In response, crew on the Ángeles Alvariño said they were conducting scientific work in Spanish waters. The Spanish vessels finally departed British waters after about three hours.<br />
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“This was, once again, dangerous and reckless nonsense no doubt orchestrated and applauded at the highest political levels of the current Spanish Government in pursuit of their claim to the sovereignty of our waters, an objective which it will never achieve,” the Chief Minister said.<br />
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“It’s not going to happen legally or factually, however many probes they deploy and even former Spanish Ambassadors to the UN have recognised that.”<br />
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“Once again, today, lives have been endangered and police and navy time has been wasted by these useless and needlessly provocative activities.”<br />
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Mr Picardo said the fact that the incident was unfolding as authorities in Gibraltar held a minute’s silence for the victims of the terror attack in Tunisia demonstrated “extraordinary crassness” and “an forgiveable lack of common decency”.<br />
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According to The Convent, there have been 218 unlawful incursions into British waters by Spanish state vessels during the first six months of 2015.<br />
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“The UK continues to take very seriously any attempt by Spain to exercise jurisdiction or control within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters,” the spokesman for The Convent said.<br />
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“Incursions are a violation of sovereignty. They do not weaken or undermine the international legal basis for UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So the question is when will UK, FCO and Our Governor do anything?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When will our Government start to tell UK Government, FCO and Our Governor that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? NO more letters of protest - ACTION!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Unfortunately we all know too well that until there is a DEATH no-one will do anything!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please join us in raising the awareness so that those in charge do what they are paid to do!</b></span></div>
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Gerald Struggles<span style="color: white; line-height: 11.4285717010498px;">t</span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-36953214888950452762015-06-28T15:22:00.000+02:002015-06-28T15:22:34.797+02:00Once Again Spanish Para Military Guardia Civil - exercise Jurisdiction in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!<h2>
Once Again Spanish Para Military Guardia Civil - exercise Jurisdiction in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Yesterday the Gib Cormorant Boat Club held its annual fishing competition with many boats competing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Well at 8 am in the morning Mr Triay and another boat arrived at a fishing mark just opposite Catalan bay well within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters - when they were approached by the Guardia Civil again asking questions and exercising jurisdiction in our waters! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Not a sign of the British Navy or Our Royal Gibraltar Police whilst all this was happening .</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">This Fishing Event had been published and advertised for some time, So, how come such an event go unnoticed by our local</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> authorities who have not even provided the necessary protection it requires! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Remember that everyone knows how things are and how the Guardia Civil are not only armed but have been trying to exercise jurisdiction for some time now!</span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Again shameful attitude by the FCO, our Governor, the RGP and <b>Our Governmen</b>t who are doing nothing about this!</span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will it take a death before our own Government does what it is meant to do? </span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know the FCO and the Navy do not care about protecting us but surely our Government should do so! </span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They should be putting pressure on the RGP, FCO and the Navy and they should be challenging all these illegal incursions! </span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why should we the people of Gibraltar be afraid of going out to sea and enjoy our fishing competitions and our summer activities!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>A local describes another issue that happened yesterday!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I know some people who enjoy fishing from boats, sports fishermen so to speak. One of my fishermen friends explained to me yesterday that on Friday (yesterday), a Guardia Civil police boat approached a small Gibraltar boat at Europa Point, bordered the boat and confiscated all their fishing rods! The RGP were apparently called but when they arrived, it was too late the Guardia Civil made good their escape into Algeciras.</span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">My friend also tells me that many of the sports fishermen with boats now go out in groups and keep close communication with each other when they go out fishing because they do not feel safe out in our own waters. It is now routine for Spanish police boats to challenge local boats in our own waters and ask for documentation. Many of these instances go unreported.</span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The situation is worse than what some would like us to believe. Be under no illusions, Gibraltar no longer enjoys the clear cut territorial integrity of our waters. I am not going to suggest that it’s Spanish 100% but as far as I am concerned and it hurts me to admit it, it’s more like a “shared sovereignty”. Spanish police vessels and military too, come and patrol our waters like Pedro por su casa. The “warnings” that they are given and the political complaints to Madrid are just not working, if anything it is simply encouraging them to keep on escalating the situation. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">We should have a 24/7 Navy presence in our waters. Is that too much to ask?</span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">I am sorry but the position adopted by our own law agencies is simply not effective. The Navy has to be forced into a position in having to take action against these invaders that are behaving more like pirates. I am not talking about using guns or anything, I am simply saying that enough is enough and if need be arrest one of their vessel s bring them in.</span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Some seem to be worried about the impact of such actions at our frontier, worried about the repercussions. Well, they are actually playing on this and quite honestly if it comes to a temporary closed frontier, so be it. That issue also needs to be brought to a conclusion because the “new system” they are finishing is not going to get rid of the queues. </span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">We have lost control of our waters. More importantly, the Spanish are making progress in controlling our waters, whilst those who should be in a position to do something about it are simply not doing enough. I do not refer to the police or customs; I am referring to the decision makers and the Navy. It’s time to grow some and demonstrate in no uncertain terms whose waters these are. As it stands, they seem to be shared moving more towards a takeover. If you want to avoid a confrontation then make sure you don’t allow opportunities for them to come in and approach any of our own boats. The current approach is far too “reactive” to what they get up to and not “proactive” enough not to allow them to get up to mischief. </span></div>
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<img src="https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11200835_914882728558263_648598046977990214_n.jpg?oh=130fd723a51b570736c896db3e1d5a13&oe=561E8542" /></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Wake up and smell the coffee....PLEASE....before someone gets hurt or worse. We have already heard of minor accidents, why should we wait for a more serious one? Esta gente se an cresido demasiado.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">ON the same </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">incident</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Another terrible incident with the Guardia Civil out at Europa Point . IN B.G.T.W. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">This person and owner of his boat was fishing, when all of sudden he saw </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">the Spanish Guardia Civil coming straight towards him. He started up his engine and the G.C. wanted to board his boat and he said "no that he will not permit them to board him" He tried always to keep a distance between the two boats.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Suddenly they tried to force and board him! Within an arms distance one of the Guardia civil got hold of one of his fishing gear and stole it from him .THE FISHING gear is worth about £600.00 .</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Now the big question again where were the <b>RGP or THE NAVY or THE NEW COASTAL AGENCY? OR EVEN THE PORT DEPARTMENT? .</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><b><u>APPARENTLY IT TOOK 30 MINUTES FOR THE RGP TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE WHEN IT USUALLY TAKES ONLY 5 MINUTES!</u></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br />So we have spent millions of tax payers money for what? On new Police Launches? On.new customs boats? What is the point of new boats and new manpower for the New Coastal Agency?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">FOR WHAT? A waste of Tax payers money! When it could have been used for the new Mental Hospital OR AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A NEW SCANNER!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">That would be TAX PAYERS MONEY well spent!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">IF THE GUARDIA CIVIL HAVE BROKEN THE LAW THEY MUST BE PROSECUTED!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Also all those Spanish fishermen who are breaking our laws!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Or are there two different laws here in Gibraltar - one for Spaniards and one for the locals?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Are we going to wait till there is a fatal accident out at sea! </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">What then?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Will we all have to go and give our condolences to their loved ones?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 17.8666667938232px;">Remember people - that next time it could be you or a relative of yours!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One other local stated</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0" style="background-color: white;">Many years ago when the Spanish started their assault over the frontier control we used to toot our horns and complain fiercely but their persistent behaviour wore us down, we now sit quietly queuing whether for ten minutes or two hours</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text2:0">It appears that</span></span><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text0:0"> whilst out government and opposition play childish political games with each other in clear view the Spanish para military are taking control of our waters.</span><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text3:0" /><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text4:0">Someone should give the people of Gibraltar the comfort they deserve that our sovereignty and waters are NOT under threat. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0" style="background-color: white;"><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text5:0" /><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_947251935333092:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text6:0">Get off the fence and protect our people.........</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0" style="background-color: white;"><b>Another person writes:</b></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0" style="background-color: white;">Just to enlighten people it's not that people don't want to do anything on our end ! It's that our counterparts in UK stop us from making any movements and any retaliation of sorts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text2:0">Now wouldn't it be better if these so called leaders pulled their thu</span></span><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text0:0">mbs out their asses.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0" style="background-color: white;"><br data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0">And started to actually give a f***, other than we have to cut money here and there? </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0" style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0" style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0">Also on top of it the government in UK are letting immigrants step all over our laws and ways of life. That doesn't happen in gib. Now I know these immigrants drive money trough the country and help out in the economy. I know it's a bit of topic. But it shows why things aren't being doing because the heads in UK won't upset anyone!</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0" style="background-color: white;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.9999990463257px; line-height: 17.8666667938232px;"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".5a.1:4:1:$comment946931415365144_946948228696796:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0" style="background-color: white;">**********</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It makes us wonder if UK are slowly but surely selling us to Spain and our Government by doing nothing is in agreement to this happening!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Governor is leaving under speculation of difference of interpretation of our 2006 Constitution - then we have GC in our Queen's Birthday parade - apparently FCO always invite them? Oh and our Government were not aware that Spanish Para Military entered our Land to attend? Who is in charge of our Gibraltar is the question to ask openly!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>Our Government must and has a duty to be informed of any Spanish Military visit in our Land and they must take up any illegal incursion and any illegal act of trying to enforce jurisdiction in our British Gibraltar Territorial Waters! </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>So, should UK Government and the FCO take up Spain on these issues!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>Gibraltar belongs to the PEOPLE OF GIBRALTAR - THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT UK MUST HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>UK Government need to step up and protect us and our Government must stop acting like a mouse in this important issue! Start arresting the Guardia Civil - start making stronger protests and defend your people who cannot even go out to sea for leisure!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>Wake up Chief MInister Fabian Picardo and do your duty we are fed up of words it is as bad as the UK protests to Madrid!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>Serve your people by protecting them! No more time for playground games!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b>Gerald Struggles</b></span></span></span></div>
Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-42565887132583640392015-06-24T21:48:00.003+02:002015-06-24T21:51:32.001+02:00The Spanish Para-Military salute our Queen and Our British Flag and Our Royal Gibraltar Regiment on Queen's Birthday Parade<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>The Spanish Para-Military salute our Queen and Our British Flag and Our Royal Gibraltar Regiment on Queen's Birthday Parade</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Thanks to our Governor Sir James Dutton and the FCO</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a shock initially to see these 2 Spanish Guardia Civil in our Queen's Birthday Parade in their full uniform amongst the VIP guests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, it was a pleasure to witness them Saluting our British Queen, British Flag and our Royal Gibraltar Regiment in our British Land!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has not happened for a very long time indeed. So perhaps Spain's attitude towards Gibraltar is finally changing? They are beginning to recognise that Gibraltar is British and under the British Crown!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an awesome picture travelled throughout social media - although there were and still are mixed feelings of their presence - it seemed the Spanish activist were more against it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember that many years ago it was not unthinkable to see these Para Military in uniform</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So FCO confirm they always invite the Spanish Guardia Civils to the Queen's birthday parade. However, the debate went on social media as Government and FCO began to clarify who knew beforehand and who did not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much so that each made public press releases:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Governor and No6 at odds over Guardia Civil presence at Queen's Birthday Parade<br />GBC News</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A clear rift has emerged between Number Six and the Convent regarding the attendance of two Guardia Civil Officers at yesterday’s Queen’s Birthday Parade at Casemates. Whilst the Office of the Governor has said it is delighted to welcome the officers as part of an effort to improve neighbourly relations, the Gibraltar Government says it wasn’t consulted on the invitation and believes the <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">negative public reaction is understandable.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It raised eyebrows at Casemates, and caused a social media storm throughout the night. Two uniformed Guardia Civil Officers with their distinctive head-ware were among the official guests at the Queen’s Birthday parade – an unprecedented development. They were junior officers, one a Lieutenant and the other an Ensign. As the image raged across social networks, the Chief Minister, who was at the event, tweeted that his Government had nothing to do with the invitation.</i></span></div>
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The Convent has confirmed that officers from the Guardia Civil are invited regularly and have attended in previous years, though GBC understands they have done so in civilian clothing. The Governor says he’s delighted that the officers attended, and welcomed them as a positive step towards good neighbourly relations.</div>
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However Number Six Convent Place isn’t quite so welcoming. It says it hasn’t been consulted as to this invitation, has never been consulted in the past, and didn’t even know this was happening. In a statement, a spokesman stressed that all arrangements are made by the Convent and not the Government, It believes the adverse reaction in Gibraltar to this presence is entirely understandable given the hostile campaign in Madrid against Gibraltar, often involving the Guardia Civil.</div>
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<b><u>UNIFORMED GUARDIA CIVIL OFFICERS CAUGHT RGP BY SURPRISE</u></b><br />
<b>Chronicle</b></div>
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Police Commissioner Eddie Yome was unaware that two Guardia Civil officers planned to attend the Queen’s Birthday Parade in uniform, the Royal Gibraltar Police said yesterday.</div>
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In a statement, the force also said it had been ‘appropriate in the circumstances’ to offer the two Spanish officers transport after they turned up in uniform.<br />
The RGP said Mr Yome knew that Guardia Civil officers were invited every year by both The Convent and Commander British Forces Gibraltar to attend the Queen’s Birthday Parade and garden party.</div>
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But it added: “The Commissioner was nevertheless unaware that the Guardia</div>
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Civil had accepted the invitation and would be attending this year’s event, let alone that they would do so in uniform.”</div>
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The RGP also explained its decision to offer transport to the two Spanish officers from the border to Casemates for the parade, and then to The Convent for the garden party.</div>
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“The decision to provide RGP transport for these officers to the venue was an operational decision made by the duty officer at the time with the sole purpose of preventing any possible incident involving these Spanish uniformed officers whilst en route to Casemates Square from the land frontier,” the RGP said.</div>
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“This decision was appropriate in the circumstances.”</div>
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I believe if the FCO or the Governor thought it was going to cause an incident during the Queen's Parade - they under estimated how Proud we are to be British!</div>
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We the people of Gibraltar - of course we were shocked - but as always our Loyalty to Our Queen made us see the good that it was actually for Gibraltar!</div>
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I mean where else do you get Para Military Guardia Civil Guards from a country that claims a land that does not belong to them and salute the Queen and Flag and Army of that Country?</div>
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It was Great for many of us to see!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">AMS</span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-85793814973122007592015-06-01T22:21:00.003+02:002015-06-24T21:49:18.334+02:00FCO pressure heightens that now Sir James Dutton alters his reason for resigning as Governor!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FCO pressure heightens that now Sir James Dutton alters his reason for resigning as Governor!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now it seems that since the FCO and the UK government could not silence the press release from the express - they have now moved to try and alter the true reason of Sir James Dutton's resignation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us go back to what he said in his Speech - <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">In his resignation speech, Sir James said the job was </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">“more representational and ceremonial than I had expected”.</b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This means that he either made the wrong assumption on who leads Gibraltar or he thought that the FCO does not listen to his advice on the way forward.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">However, today Sir James Dutton has made another press release stating he was resigning as our Governor for Personal and Professional reasons!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">So, let us go back and analyse this change. </span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Is it the FCO pressure making him change his words? Or is it that he was led to believe that he was ultimately in charge of Gibraltar and the running of our Country? </span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I</span></span></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">t is starting to look like he must have still thought we were a Colony and that we were not self Governing!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">To be honest, if he thought he was going to be in charge, I am glad to say that our Chief Minister put him in his place! If he thought we were going to be treated like 2nd class citizens in our own land he got it very wrong indeed.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I don't blame him in thinking or coming to this conclusion, as it depends on how the FCO sold this position to him! Or how the UK Government convinced him? But the truth must be said to the FCO - loud and clear - Long gone are the days when we the people of Gibraltar were illiterate and thus easier to keep in the dark!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Nowadays we have the marvellous discovery of Google - want to know what anything means, history and facts - just Google it!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">So, why the sudden change in tune of our Governor's resignation? Is it that he is a puppet for the FCO after all? Was the fact that he could not control the passion and pride of being British Gibraltarian? Was it our constant demand for defending our Land and our people by UK against the bullying tactics from Spain just too much to handle? Was it the discovery that he was only representational and ceremonial and as such he was ruining his career by us highlighting his failure to defend us!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><b>Definitely</b></span></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> food for thought! We have never had a Governor resign in this way and we all know that there have been heated arguments behind closed doors with both Gib Govt and UK Govt and the FCO for sure!</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This was on GBC news Tonight. </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><b>http://www.gbc.gi/news/personal-and-professional-reasons-behind-resignation-says-governor-29709</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<h1 class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: latoregular, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 27pt;">"Personal
and professional" reasons behind resignation, says Governor</span></span></span></h1>
<div style="line-height: 0.29cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #3d9bd5;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" src="http://www.gbc.gi/uploads/news/jAFGg_dutton.jpg" height="454" name="graphics1" width="636" /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.66cm; margin-bottom: 0.26cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The
Governor has issued a statement saying his decision to leave his post
is due to personal and professional reasons, and not related to
Spain’s pressure on Gibraltar.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.66cm; margin-bottom: 0.26cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The
post of Gibraltar Governor was advertised on the UK Government
website ‘Civil Service Jobs by the Foreign Office this week. The
post is advertised for four years, with a salary of between 85
thousand and 162 thousand pounds.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.66cm; margin-bottom: 0.26cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In
a statement, Sir James Dutton says the decision to leave his post
early was not made in haste. He says he made the decision in late
2014, and the timing of his departure was mutually agreed with the
Chief Minister to allow the time necessary to find a successor, and
cause the least amount of disruption.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
**************
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Now read the above and then read the express and make your judgement. I stand by mine....</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">We the people of Gibraltar will no longer be played like idiots and if there was friction with Sir James Dutton for wanting to stand up for us - you have no idea what friction is! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Governors come and go but we the people of Gibraltar will stay and not be silenced!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><b>Alison MacMillan we will not put up with this continual denial of our RIGHTS to be protected!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b>AMS</b></span></span>Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-66171564009727227442015-05-31T21:28:00.002+02:002015-06-24T21:49:51.168+02:00Governor Sir James Dutton Resigns as Governor of Gibraltar due to lack of action from the FCO and the UK Government!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Governor Sir James Dutton Resigns as Governor of Gibraltar - due to lack of action from the FCO and the UK Government!</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Defenders of Gibraltar we have been stating since the formation of the group - UK Government and the FCO just do not care about Defending the people of Gibraltar! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all thought that SIr James Dutton would in fact make a big difference - how wrong we were! We saw almost immediately that he was yet again a puppet on a string and those strings were pulled by the FCO personnel: The FCO do not and have never cared about Gibraltar and its people!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his resignation speech, Sir James said the job was <b>“more
representational and ceremonial than I had expected”.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir James’s 37-year-career with the Royal Marines saw him become
deputy commander of the Nato-led International Security Assistance
Force in Afghanistan in 2008, before leaving the service in 2010 to
join the engineering conglomerate Bechtel as principle vice
president.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Responsible for overseeing a complete overhauling of Gabon’s
infrastructure, he had settled his family in the West African nation
before “getting the call” to become Governor of Gibraltar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Sir James is one of those rare chaps who managed to follow a highly
successful military career with an equally successful civilian one,”
said a friend. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He gave it all up – and it was a lot to give up - for
Gibraltar, because he was led to believe that he could make a
difference. He assumed his military career was the reason he was
wanted. Instead what he got was <b><u>pomp but no real power”.</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We have made it clear on numerous occasions that the lack of action from UK and the FCO is due to them not wanting to spoil their own relationship with Spain. We all know that currently in Spain there are over <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> 808,000 (104,000 are pensioners) as stated in 2012 Guardian Newspaper. So why defend Gibraltar? For 30,000 British Citizens? The only reason they keep a presence on the Rock of Gibraltar is merely due to Gibraltar being the only gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. Gibraltar is useful as a military forwarding base and a nuclear submarine base. In UK no port wants these nuclear submarines!</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Below is a great write up from the Panorama Newspaper from 2011 - </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/headlines.php?action=view_article&article=7054</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="article_headline" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.6666660308838px;" valign="top">Gibraltar remains important in any military scenario</td></tr>
<tr><td class="article_text" valign="top"><i style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Secret papers by JOE GARCIA</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The West has always dreaded the spectre of unrest in what are described as potential trouble-spots along the North African littoral washed by the Mediterranean. Tunisia, Egypt now, and the prospect of contagion tomorrow?<br /><br />"The Mediterranean is critically important; for the member nations of the southern region of NATO it provides common access and vital lines of communication for supplies and reinforcements," says a document marked 'Secret UK eyes' and headed The Strategic Importance of Gibraltar to the UK and NATO.<br /><br />The document adds: "For over 150 miles on either side of the western entrance to the Mediterranean the freedom of movement of shipping is severely constrained by the coastline. Thus, control of the western end of the Mediterranean, the ability to seal off events in that area from the Atlantic, and surveillance of a critical part of one of the world's strategic routes, rests with whoever commands the Strait. Dominating the Strait lies Gibraltar."<br /><br />That says it all. The importance of Gibraltar to western defence, world peace, stands out like a beacon.<br /><br />In times of tension and in times of war, all seaborne reinforcements and supplies for the southern region must come through this strategic Strait.<br /><br />When this secret report was written by the Chiefs of Defence, the Soviet threat loomed high - and so did the importance of Gibraltar.<br /><br />Western thinking was that the Soviets might endeavour to control or deny the use of the Strait to NATO. In those days of cold war, the extension of Soviet power and influence throughout the Mediterranean was of constant concern, their aim was considered to be to try and undermine the influence of the USA in the area and achieve the fragmentation of the Western Alliance, said the document.<br /><br />The document took a 5-year view into the 1980s. In those days, the MOD in Gibraltar had 3,400 locally employed civilians of whom 900 were Moroccans, compared with the ever-reducing UK presence, affecting both civilian and military personnel.<br /><br />In those days, the frontier with Spain was closed. Particularly while this remained so, said the document,the attitude of Morocco is relevant.Morocco provides a large proportion of the labour force and was an important source of supply of food etc.<br /><br />The maintenance of this support remains one of the main British and NATO priorities concerning their relations with Morocco, said the military document.<br /><br />Certainly, Morocco "has always considered it unacceptable for Spain to control both sides of the Strait," an aim of policy which has a clear bearing on Ceuta, Melilla and other rocks on the North African shoreline.<br /><br />The military studied wider considerations deeper into the Mediterranean: "While an unfriendly nation on the southern littoral of the Mediterranean could increase the threat to Gibraltar it would not affect Gibraltar's strategic importance and indeed could enhance it."<br /><br />The principal alternatives on the north shore of the Strait to Gibraltar for controlling the Strait are Cadiz and Cartagena, said the document. Both have large naval facilities and nearby airfields, and while suitable bases for operations, neither has the commanding position, combined with the necessary facilities, which enables Gibraltar to exercise domination over the Strait.<br /><br />NATO has long urged Britain to increase Gibraltar's role, but there has been a reluctance to invest more on military hardware.<br /><br />Looking ahead, it was said that the geographical position of Gibraltar provided 'an excellent base for the employment of technologically advanced weapons and equipment such as remotely controlled minefields, active and passive surveillance equipment, operating above and below the surface, together with their associated weapon systems.'<br /><br />The secret document concluded: "The Gibraltar strait is of considerable strategic importance and it is in NATO's interest to retain Gibraltar in Alliance hands."<br /><br />Clearly, there has been a shift in military planning since the cold war, but the Rock continues to be an important pivot in any other military scenario more attuned to today's world and more specific to actual or potential crisis areas in the Mediterranean.<br /><br />The most recent strategic defence and security review last year reaffirmed the importance of the permanent joint operating base in Gibraltar.<br /><br />11-02-11</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">************************</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This weekend we saw a very strange thing indeed - The Express newspaper wrote an article and then removed it and then begun to deny the publication of it - until the people of Gibraltar showed proof of what they had posted and demanded a reason for the removal! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The article is now back on the website for all to read although!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Guardian Text Egyptian Web, Georgia, serif;">http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/581101/Governor-Gibraltar-quits-row-Spain-Britain</span></span><br />
<h1 class="western">
'Sold a duff' Governor of Gibraltar quits after
UK fails to stand up to Spain aggression</h1>
<h3 class="western">
THE GOVERNOR of Gibraltar has quit his post over
tensions with the Foreign Office about the way Britain was dealing
with Spanish aggression against the Rock, the Sunday Express has
learned.</h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/search/Marco+Giannangeli+?s=Marco+Giannangeli+&b=1">MARCO
GIANNANGELI</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sun, May 31,
2015 | UPDATED: 18:21, Sun, May 31, 2015</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton took the unprecedented step to
stand down from his role as Her Majesty’s Governor and Commander in
Chief of the British overseas territory less than two years after
leaving a lucrative career to take up the position.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His tenure has seen the ramping up of Spanish aggression against
Gibraltar, with illegal border controls causing havoc on the tiny
territory, and an increase in illegal maritime incursions – as many
as 245 over a two-month in 2014.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night sources close to the Sir James who, as a Royal Marine,
became second in command of Nato forces in Afghanistan, said he felt
he had been “sold a duff” after increasing friction with the
Foreign Office made it clear the role would just be ceremonial.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Sunday Express has learned that, while he had been unhappy
with his position for some time, it was only after the Conservative
Party’s election victory earlier this month, and the decision to
keep Europe Minister David Lidington in post, that he took the
decision to finally leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his resignation speech, Sir James said the job was “more
representational and ceremonial than I had expected”. His shock
announcement left the Foreign Office scrabbling to find a suitable
replacement before September, when he will take his leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However one close source said last night: “When he was invited
to become Governor, he assumed it was because of his military career.
He was very much of a mind that the Royal Navy’s presence should be
increased in Gibraltar, and that Gibraltar’s reaction to Spanish
incursions should be more robust.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In the event, he was met with increasing frustration by the way
the Foreign Office dealt with the Spanish question.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other sources suggested that he faced mounting friction with
Alison MacMillan, formerly Gibraltar’s deputy Governor who now
heads the Foreign office’s Gibraltar desk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir James’s 37-year-career with the Royal Marines saw him become
deputy commander of the Nato-led International Security Assistance
Force in Afghanistan in 2008, before leaving the service in 2010 to
join the engineering conglomerate Bechtel as principle vice
president.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Responsible for overseeing a complete overhauling of Gabon’s
infrastructure, he had settled his family in the West African nation
before “getting the call” to become Governor of Gibraltar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Jim is one of those rare chaps who managed to follow a highly
successful military career with an equally successful civilian one,”
said a friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He gave it all up – and it was a lot to give up - for
Gibraltar, because he was led to believe that he could make a
difference. He assumed his military career was the reason he was
wanted. Instead what he got was pomp but no real power”.</span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1cm; margin-right: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A close source</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is not the only Gibraltar Governor to have expressed concerns
over FCO policy.<br /><br />Last week Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, Sir
James’s predecessor, described the job as “trying to walk a
tightrope between shark infested waters on one side and a minefield
on the other.”<br /><br />Addressing the prestigious Friends of
Gibraltar group in London, he said the role in Gibraltar was special
because the Governor is also given special responsibility for
external affairs, defence and internal security.<br /><br />“The
Governor is not as some would like to think the FCO’s agent in
Gibraltar,” he said.<br /><br />“He is, as the Queen’s
representative, constitutionally the senior officer of Her Majesty’s
Government of Gibraltar, with a role clearly defined by the
constitution.<br /><br />So I was quite clear that I represented
Her Majesty, not Her Majesty’s Government, ’ he said.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said the Governor’s role also meant influencing “the
formulation of UK policy by representing the interests of Gibraltar
to the UK.”<br /><br />He added:“Developing policy in a London office
1,000 miles away from Gibraltar needs a constant dose of reality and
independent judgment from the coal face.<br /><br />“In spite of modern
methods of communication that 1,000 mile gap can sometimes seem very
wide."<br /><br />In January Andrew Rosindell MP, former chair of
the British overseers territories all-Parliamentary group, said
Gibraltar was being sacrificed as a “pawn” by a Government intent
on appeasing Spain to secure its EU reform agenda.<br /><br />Last night,
Mr. Rosindell added: "I am deeply disturbed at what
increasingly looks like a policy by the FCO of appeasement to Spain -
they talk tough in public, but when it comes to it actions are weak.
The decision to keep David Lidington in place as Europe Minister
seems to suggest this will continue."<br /><br />I am not the only
MP who feels Gibraltar is being sacrificed over the Government desire
for EU reform. But appeasing Spain has only added fuel to Spain's
fire. What's needed is for the door to be shut firmly in Spain's
face.<br /><br />"It is essential that the next Governor is also a
military man, and not someone from the Foreign office. At least
military Governors try to stand up to the FCO.<br /><br />"This
seemed unlikely last night, however, as the Foreign Office published
a job vacancy for Sir James’ replacement.<br /><br />In a change from
the past, the advert placed the desire for a senior civil servant
above that of a former senior military officer, and highlighted the
need to “devote considerable time to the ceremonial,
representational and social aspects of the role.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlbL4YL_rc7aLCAd0ctKqQ8__pJrqZdAQldIPlB9C-wdTb7kDy9rjJjVW3KonXhZazwf9CKoJnGdMz1iEZL4JBYiPXoAwE9C_Oc5gvFkpz9SkP-Z7R-WqvsdWRqFQK07Cs3KZNDKMPE9J/s1600/gov+james+dutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlbL4YL_rc7aLCAd0ctKqQ8__pJrqZdAQldIPlB9C-wdTb7kDy9rjJjVW3KonXhZazwf9CKoJnGdMz1iEZL4JBYiPXoAwE9C_Oc5gvFkpz9SkP-Z7R-WqvsdWRqFQK07Cs3KZNDKMPE9J/s320/gov+james+dutton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><i><b>It looks like UK government and FCO do not believe in democracy and freedom when trying to hide truths from the people of Gibraltar. Are we having people silenced in UK or the FCO offices? Why so much secrecy? We have seen many Governors come and go! But this is the first time we have a Governor resign! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><i><b>It seems to me that <u>Sir James Dutton</u> has not wanted to continue as the PUPPET for FCO or UK Government! For this this gentleman deserves our UTMOST respect and honour! He has shown to have more integrity than many before him!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">We the people of Gibraltar have a right as British Citizens to have the UK Government and the FCO defend us! It is not acceptable that we have daily Spanish Guardia Civil (Spanish Paramilitary) incursions in our British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">Will it take a death before UK Government or the FCO act to protect us? Will it need an invasion by the Spanish Army to Gibraltar before they take security seriously?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">We the people of Gibraltar are <b>NOT</b> 3rd class citizens! We are British Citizens and we have a VOICE and a RIGHT to be Safe and Secure in our land, at sea and in the air!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">So now, although we know the truth, it leaves us wondering what do UK Government and the FCO really think about us? - they know of the dangers at Sea and Land but yet continue to do nothing? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">The FCO and the UK Government will be held accountable for any deaths due to their continued negligence in safe guarding us as a people and a Country in our own right!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px;">Now what we need is our Government to take this up seriously with UK Government and the FCO! We do not want a</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">ny more FCO puppets and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Alison MacMillan, formerly Gibraltar’s deputy Governor who now heads the Foreign office’s Gibraltar desk.needs to now wake up!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwPjdQoUfzeqhJfLMyORa2-PyUqOzbyIWi1-9h02Q_yq6mwiC9UOh8GtlKcf8SKuUdgSMnGC6ap9SNHBgOFW6gYaOd8dRTHql90VYo68gnCMDAoh9VSQ2SYSVT1AT8GMyEUGJVcoV2A3B/s1600/head+of+FCO+in+Gib+-+-Alison_Macmillan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwPjdQoUfzeqhJfLMyORa2-PyUqOzbyIWi1-9h02Q_yq6mwiC9UOh8GtlKcf8SKuUdgSMnGC6ap9SNHBgOFW6gYaOd8dRTHql90VYo68gnCMDAoh9VSQ2SYSVT1AT8GMyEUGJVcoV2A3B/s320/head+of+FCO+in+Gib+-+-Alison_Macmillan.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">We the people of Gibraltar will no longer be played like idiots and if there was friction with Sir James Dutton for wanting to stand up for us - you have no idea what friction is! Governors come and go but we the people of Gibraltar will stay and not be silenced!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Alison MacMillan we will not put up with this continued denial of our RIGHTS to be protected!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">AMS</span>Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-31512945711198806602015-05-11T20:41:00.001+02:002015-06-24T21:50:11.391+02:00Spain commits a Dangerous incursion injuring Royal Gibraltar Police Officer in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dangerous Incursions by Guardia Civil In British Gibraltar Territorial Waters</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the scene today</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.gbc.gi/news/guardia-civil-board-local-fishing-boat-british-gibraltar-territorial-waters-29558</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b><u> BREAKING NEWS: Guardia Civil board local boat in BGTW</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The Government has been informed that the Guardia Civil boarded a local fishing boat with two persons on board inside British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) early this afternoon.<br />The Royal Gibraltar Police was alerted to the incident by the local people on board the boat. An RGP officer sustained slight injuries when he boarded the local boat.The details of the incident will be released by the RGP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />However, the Government considers that it is totally unacceptable for the Guardia Civil to operate in waters which are not Spanish and over which they have no jurisdiction. It is even worse that they should board a vessel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The Government and will be raising the matter with the United Kingdom and would like to thank the Royal Gibraltar Police officers involved who went about their duty of upholding the law of Gibraltar in an exemplary manner.<br /><br /><b><u>Royal Gibraltar Police Statement</u></b><br /><br /> The RGP has just issued the following report following the news of an incident in the Bay involving the Guardia Civil:<br /><br /> Shortly before 1pm this afternoon a call for assistance was received by the RGP’s Marine Section. The caller was one of two local fishermen aboard a locally registered vessel, which, at the time, was approximately 1 mile west of the North Mole and within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The caller advised the RGP that the vessel had been boarded by a Guardia Civil officer whilst within BGTW.<br /><br /> On arrival at the location, and seeing that a Guardia Civil officer was aboard the local boat, an RGP officer proceeded to board the vessel. He sustained an injury as the fishing vessel was navigated in an attempt to prevent his boarding. Control of the fishing vessel was then taken by RGP officers who returned to port together with the two local men. An investigation into the matter has disclosed no offences by the two local men. The Guardia Civil officers remained at the location of the incident.<br /><br /> The injured officer has received treatment for his injury at St Bernard’s Hospital and has since been released. He has now returned to his duties.<br /><br /> The Commissioner and Senior Management Team are grateful to the Marine Section duty crew for their response to this incident and to the entire Marine Section for their professionalism and dedication to duty, over the last couple of years, in what has been a difficult and trying period.<br /><br /> The RGP would like to reassure the community that it will work to allow all law abiding citizens to freely enjoy the use of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Looks like Spanish Government are up to their own tricks again and to make matters worse the Summer is coming.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Will it take a death before FCO or UK Government or our Governor Sir James Dutton have the courage to act?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Today we have had one of our Royal Gibraltar Police Officer injured!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do we really have to wait for a fatality?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is the point in having A Governor who is ex Royal Marine if he does nothing but send pitiful protests via the convent to UK!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I say Shame on you Sir James Dutton and on the FCO and on UK Government - David Cameron you have only got into Government again - where is your manifesto commitment to the people of Gibraltar?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To our Governor I recommend you do something quick before the whole of Gibraltar ends up in the street or at sea taking action that should have come from you first!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please do your job and STOP this! You are going to create a worse situation by doing nothing!</b></span><br />
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This happened only last week 4th May<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">FRONTIER QUEUES OF OVER THREE HOURS TODAY</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There were three and a half hour outgoing queues at the Frontier on Monday afternoon, with substantial pedestrian queues as well. They are among the longest queues at the border, since the seven and a half hour queues reported last summer.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">(Picture from frontierqueue.gi, taken on Monday evening)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy Of www.panorama.gi</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spain in modern day ‘Cold War’ Gibraltar policy… Thanks to the FCO!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 06, 2015</span></div>
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| By Leo Olivero</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by T Bickerstaff</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even taking into account the present Spanish frontier works, few are in any doubt the Spanish Government has for many months intensified frontier controls to levels which clearly have nothing to do with the works itself.<br /><br /><b>Check Point (Proper) Charlie</b><br /><br />The frontier situation at times would not have been out of place even in the 1960’s during the ‘cold war days’ at similar iconic frontier crossings like the infamous ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ at the West to East Berlin crossing point into the old German communist regime.<br /><br />Cross-frontier users have been made to look and feel by Madrid like modern day ‘Proper (Frontier) Charlie’s’ that’s for sure. Having to put up with all the crap thrown at them by PP Government and their band of frontier Spanish guards. Some of which are reminiscent to those guards who took up similar positions on the east side of ‘checkpoint charlie’ during the 60’s and 70’s until the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989.<br /><br />Today, Gibraltar is experiencing a modern day ‘Cold War’ with our hostile neighbour with the similar kind of daily harassment, bullying and intimidation which Gibraltarians and other frontier users have to put up with in the 21st century and not in a post war Germany scenario!<br /><br />The expression “Cold War” has a number of historical meanings. But a ‘cold war’ is basically a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action, but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions and propaganda. …With that definition, if Spain has not waged modern day ‘Cold War’ on Gibraltar these last 10 years in particular, then what the hell has she been doing?<br /><br />To explain or illustrate further, the PP Government ‘Cold War Policy’ on Gibraltar Economically continues in its attempt to strangle Gibraltar’s economy. The Spanish Governments Political Actions by Air, Sea and Land again appears to know no bounds, as we witness daily. And her Anti-Gibraltar Propaganda Machine would have brought a smile to the face of Franco and his wartime mate Adolf!<br /><br />But few in positions of power in London have picked up on the Spanish governments Gibraltar cold war concept, not because it has not been noticed, but because they wish not to see it!<br /><br />When I say few, I am referring to our protectors in London at the FCO and their emotionless response to Spain’s on-going modern day cold war efforts on British Subjects down here in the Southern Most Hemisphere of Continental Europe.<br /><br /><b>FCO Diplomatically Brain Dead on Gibraltar!</b><br /><br />Even taking into account the UK is on imminent general election countdown, it would be totally justifiable to say, the FCO have been ‘Diplomatically Brain Dead’ for years as far as Gibraltar is concerned. In fact, they have been atrociously useless in their defence of Gibraltar.<br /><br />It really has been an incredibly frustrating and depressingly sad time for the people of Gibraltar as far as the FCO is concerned. Who have sat back and watched how the Spanish Government has continued its assault on the Rock and its people. Without once lifting or pointing a critical finger in anger or with a more choleric tone of voice towards their Spanish counterparts.<br /><br />Instead the FCO and British Government have all along had one thing on their minds, that of preserving and maintaining the much treasured and far more important UK-Spanish interests. How can Gibraltar possible compete with that?<br /><br /><b>FCO Has Never Had Any Intention To Step up Its Efforts Against Spain</b><br /><br />I do not understand, why we are shocked or surprised about the situation, when only last year both William Hague as the then Foreign Secretary and David Lidington the Europe Minster made it quite clear that nothing was going to change and current policies regarding Gibraltar would remain in place.<br /><br />Mr Hague in fact, informed none other then the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (FASC) that the United Kingdom Government had no intention to step up its efforts or do anything else to calm the continued Spanish hostilities against Gibraltar and its people!<br /><br />If anything, Mr Hague confirmed what many here already knew and suspected. Particularly after countless months of total FCO silence, which has continued throughout this year so far regarding the inaction by the FCO and UK Government. In fact Hague said to the FASC it was right for the UK to maintain its present stance!<br /><br />With senior FCO Ministers and the British Government making their position clear regarding what they think is the best policy to tackle Spanish Government incursions the Frontier and so on. And not withstanding the fact, that British efforts so far have miserable failed.<br /><br />In fact the FCO policy is considered so passively soft and hopelessly unreceptive and totally out of touch with the situation. That it has encouraged the Spaniards to continue making these illegal transgressions into BGTW and cause daily havoc and misery to many thousands of people at the Frontier!<br /><br /><b>Policies That Have Failed From London and Succeeded From Madrid</b><br /><br />Over a number of years it has been made clear to London that present FCO Gibraltar policies regarding the frontier and incursions have failed and need an urgent rethink. This criticism has come not only from Gibraltar, but also by countless UK ministers and powerful UK governmental bodies like the Foreign Affairs and Environmental Commons Select Committee’s who have blasted the FCO and the Tory Government for their poor and useless like performance in this respect!<br /><br />It has been like an absolute zero response from the UK side at anything the Spaniards throw at us. Even the Governor has lost his voice in this respect; there has also been nothing from the Convent’s head. Although the Governor has not said much of anything since his National Day gaff reported in Panorama, when he spoke to UK visiting MPs describing the people of Gibraltar as ‘insular’. Who knows, if things continue as they are, we may yet have the opportunity to return H.E. the compliment!<br /><br />From a local perspective, over the past 3 years Gibraltar has practically laid siege on Brussels, in this respect there has been a noticeable difference.<br /><br />The Gibraltar Government, Organisations and Local Citizens have made the trek to the capital of European politics to put Gibraltar’s case across regarding the inordinate queues at the frontier and the situation with Spanish Incursions into BGTW.<br /><br />The EU and European Commission for all their faults, nowadays genuinely appear interested and so do many others who walk the coveted corridors of European power.<br /><br /><b>Brussels HQ is at Least Now Listening to Gibraltar</b><br /><br />Through the hard work of the Government, particularly the Deputy Chief Minster Dr Joseph Garcia who has led on the Government’s EU strategy. There now appears to be a friendlier ear these days willing to hear what we have to say and allowing our representatives to put Gibraltar’s case across. Whether this will eventually lead to an improved situation, or dare I say, ‘a solution’ is in my opinion not on any EU radar.<br /><br />Back to the Foreign Office, what can be said about the FCO that has not been said before? Do they really care? Are they really interested? Do they really know what is going on down here? Do they even know Gibraltar is not an Island? No they don’t!<br /><br />Spain is still clearly engaged in a full-on diplomatic offensive, even using international organisations to manifest its hostility to Gibraltar’s sovereignty.<br /><br /><b>Everything Spain is Allowed to Get Away With is Undermining UK Sovereignty</b><br /><br />The fact that Spain is a fellow member of the EU and a partner in NATO has changed nothing in Spanish political minds. Because the PP Government deliberately continues as a matter of policy to undermine the economy of Gibraltar, together with its hostile behaviour which the UK Government constantly continues to ignore.<br /><br />Spain’s latest chosen armament is its anti-Gibraltar aviation policy, together with the totally unnecessary and excessive searches of people and vehicles at the Frontier. Whilst out at sea the daily and dangerous incursions into BGTW. Whether the FCO likes it or not, it all undermines British Sovereignty.<br /><br />06-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Wake up David Cameron - Sir James Dutton and FCO</u></b></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-78791594220697170352014-12-26T19:24:00.001+01:002014-12-26T19:24:42.247+01:00We will continue to Stand up against any bullying from Spain<h2>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defenders of Gibraltar will continue to Stand against any Bullying to Gibraltar!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we come nearer to the end of the year 2014 we are very happy of what we have achieved by raising the bullying tactics to a new level! For many years we have been silenced by media and not given the importance we deserve as a country and as a people. But it has been great to finally break into the worldwide media on many issues that have affected us that are done by the bully that Spain has proved to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spanish government have not finished but at long last have lightened up quite a bit due to such awakening in all media circles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us not forget that Spanish armed Guardia Civil continue to do illegal incursions in our British Gibraltar Territorial Waters! We have Spanish government still giving orders to the Police and Guardia civil at the border to create long queues which are both inhumane and unjust! We are also discriminated continually in institutions like the European Union, EU Commission and EU Justice on rulings or decisions where Spain is still fighting to leave Gibraltar out of any vital decisions like the EU Open Skies Agreement.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spain has managed to get Gibraltar out of the European Open Skies program</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span font="" style="background-color: white; color: #174f82; line-height: 21px;">Development Minister, Ana Pastor, had a large argument with her counterpart, Patrick McLoughlin, from the British Transport Department in the meeting of the Transports Council in the EU.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span class="date" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Dec 4, 2014 - 8:33:30 AM</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><br />
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<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ana Pastor</b> said for Spain this is ‘a matter of State and of vital interest for Spain, because it affects our sovereignty and territorial integrity’<br />She threatened to veto Open Skies if Gibraltar airport was included.<br /><br clear="all" /><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
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Ana Pastor - archive photo</div>
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<br /><br /><b>McLoughlin</b> said, ‘Gibraltar forms part of all the treaties in the Union, and has all the right to form part of the initiative, and Spain has to stop the blockage at the border’.<br /><br />The European Open Skies is an ambitious initiative to improve the management of air transport and navigational services across 28 countries in the European Union.<br /><br />Yesterday’s decision confirms a ruling made last March when the European Parliament excluded Gibraltar, a decision David Cameron has been fighting since then.<br /><br />The Spaniards have always felt the Gibraltar Airport is illegal given the isthmus where it is located was not mentioned in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.<br /><br />Finally a vote was taken in the EU council with the only opposition of the United Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UK Government responded swiftly:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London has criticised Spain over her actions on European Open Skies</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: 14px;" /><span font="" style="color: #174f82; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Foreign Minister, Philip Hammond, made his comment yesterday, after earlier in the week Spain threatened to veto the Open Skies agreement if Gibraltar airport was included. The veto was not necessary but the threat had the desired effect.</span><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: black; font-size: 14px;" /><span class="date" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Dec 6, 2014 - 7:23:01 AM</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span></span><div class="content" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; padding: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span font="" style="color: #444444;"><b>Philip Hammond</b> has now said, ‘This is an important piece of legislation for the community states and the industry has been detained so Spain can score a political point’. Hammond was taking on the phone to his Italian counterpart, <b>Paolo Gentiloni</b>, as Italy current holds the EU presidency.<br /><br clear="all" /><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
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Philip Hammond - Archive photo</div>
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<br /><br />In a later statement the Foreign Minister observed, ‘Spain is trying to use a European process to force negotiations on the sovereignty of Gibraltar. Have no doubt. The United Kingdom will never agree to any arrangement under which the Gibraltarian people will go under the control of another State against their wishes’.<br /><br />Yesterday the European Commission reiterated its ‘neutrality’ on the matter of Gibraltar which had to be solved between London and Madrid. </span><br /></span><table align="right" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 300px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘We are confident that the EU will have no other option to but to follow their own rules, and apply the legislation to Gibraltar’.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span font="" style="color: #444444;">Last Wednesday, the Spanish development minister, <b>Ana Pastor</b>, said she was ‘very satisfied’ because ‘Spain had defended the most important which is national sovereignty’.<br /><br />Hammond considers the sovereignty of the Rock is outside the competences of the European Union and the recent events have merely been a distraction.<br /><br />‘We are confident that the EU will have no other option to but to follow their own rules, and apply the legislation to Gibraltar’.</span></span></div>
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<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things continue the same or worse for us on different issues and we need more support from other countries in the EU or not!</span></div>
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<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The below was written by in 2010 by Gibraltar Action Group so look how long we have been and continue to fight for our rights. </span></div>
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<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.gib-action.com/restrictions.html</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UN-FRIENDLY RESTRICTIONS BY SPAIN</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"<i>Today's human rights violations are the sources of tomorrow's conflicts.</i>" Mary Robinson 11 Nov 97<br />"<i>A right is not what someone gives you. It is what no-one can take away from you.</i>" Ramsey Clark, US Attorney General, 1974<br />"<i>I make a fuss about Gibraltar when I don't want Spaniards looking at me</i>" Gen. F. Franco, date unknown<br />"<i>Spain is not a democracy for Gibraltarian purposes</i>" John Borda, GAG, 2002</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General</span></h2>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denial of fundamental European Union rights to Gibraltarians. <span class="style1" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">New</span>- <a href="http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id=000010082&title=The%20Gibraltar%20Chronicle" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Right to vote in EU elections upheld by EU court!</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/gibbash.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Maintaining a government department dedicated to sabotaging Gibraltar's economy and to designing sanctions against us.</a> Funded to the tune of about 0.5 billion GBP (125 billion pesetas/0.7 billion euro).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Intermittent refusal to accept the Rock's territorial waters. <a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/gibwater.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">See map</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to accept Gibraltar's police, courts and legal system.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Constant attempts to exclude Gibraltar from EU Directives.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Constant attempts to deny Gibraltar membership of international sporting bodies and blocking participation in international sporting, cultural and political events.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blaming Gibraltar whenever large organised crime groups are arrested on the Costa del Sol (Costa del Crime). These groups are attracted to Spain because of its highly developed black economy and lax money-laundering laws.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Persistent attempts to undermine the Rock's Finance Centre. <a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/orgsfc.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">See how successful they've been!</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attempts to block any EU measures which could confirm the separate existence of Gibraltar's administrative and jurisdictional systems.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The long term effects of the Amsterdam Treaty.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Restriction of availability of telephone lines via the Cadiz international exchange and refusal to recognise Gibraltar’s international 350 code, also forbids Telefonica from signing "roaming" agreements with Gibraltar mobile phone companies. <em>This is subject to an EU investigation and litigation.</em> (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to admit Gibraltar to participation in Anglo-Spanish negotiations about its future status. (lifted 2004 for tripartite talks)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attempts to sow animosity between Gibraltarians and the people of the neighboring Campo area.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Occasionally throwing British citizens in jail for 48 hours without charge or explanation. This is usually limited to men travelling alone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banning the import of wine bottled in Gibraltar. (Restriction coincided with opening of a wine bottling plant in Gibraltar) <a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/bottle.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">See the funny side!</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aviation</span></h2>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to allow air links with Spain. (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to allow Gibraltar to participate in EC 'Open Skies' Directive or other EU aviation measures. (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal, despite NATO membership, to allow British military aircraft to use Spanish airspace <a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/airrest.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">See map</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to allow international passenger flights to Gibraltar airport other than from the United Kingdom and Morocco. (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If a flight to Gibraltar is diverted to Malaga, freight, including mail and coffins containing the deceased, cannot be unloaded. (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maintaining restricted air corridors to land at Gibraltar airport. <a href="http://www.gib-action.com/docs/airrest.htm" style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">See map</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other travel</span></h2>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to accept ID cards, driving licences and passports issued in Gibraltar, unless marked "United Kingdom".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to re-establish maritime links with Spain. (lifted after Cordoba Agreement)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awkward attitude towards use of collective passports for school children parties entering Spain.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attempts to exclude Gibraltar from 'Monti Package' of EU directives on free movement of people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ambivalent attitude to passport and customs checks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Intolerable delays at the frontier not only affecting the every day lives of those who live and work in and around Gibraltar but also restricting in bound tourism. <em>This is subject to an EU investigation.</em></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Confiscation" (i.e. theft) of people's property without receipt by Customs officials. This is usually drink and tobacco, but sugar has also been confiscated. Apparently officially tolerated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusal to permit cars hired in Gibraltar to enter Spain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harrassment of cruise liner companies which stop at Gibraltar. (Stopped 2005 when threatened with prosecution via EU)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the EU have tried their utmost but...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://typicallyspanish.com/news-spain/gib/Spain_has_ignored_the_European_Commission_s_instruction_over_Gibraltar.shtml</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spain has ignored the European Commission’s instruction over Gibraltar</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span font="" style="color: #174f82; line-height: 21px;">Last November 6, a three-month period established by the Commission came to an end. The deadline demanded the problems of traffic flow at the border be solved between Gibraltar and Spain, and Gibraltar must cut down on the smuggling of contraband tobacco.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span class="date" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Nov 17, 2014 - 1:36:22 PM</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span><div class="content" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; padding: 10px;">
<span font="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems neither request has been complied with: During last week the queues were lasting more than three and a half hours, but Madrid has now declared the controls are ‘reasonable’.<br />‘In addition, we are working on an ambitious project of frontier intelligence which will be ready before next summer’, so said the Government Sub-Delegate for Cádiz, <b>Javier de Torres</b>, who added five million € has been spent on the project.<br /><br clear="all" /><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
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<br /><br />The Spanish who work on the Rock think there is nothing ‘reasonable’ about the delays. <b>Juan José Uceda</b>, spokesman for the Cultural Association for Spanish Workers in Gibraltar (ASCTEG), said, ‘Gibraltar is meeting the recommendations, but Spain still hasn’t’.<br /><br />A European spokesman assured after the recommendations effectuated last August, the European Commission will continue to supervise how fast the required changes are being made, and given three months has now passed any ‘surprise’ visit is possible.<br /><br />Last week, the Trans-frontier Association for a Humanitarian Border, sent another complaint to the European commissioner, <b>Cecile Malmströn</b>, describing the on-going situation. A protest which the commissioner transferred to the Interior Minister, <b>Jorge Fernández Díaz</b>, in writing, expressing her anger at the way the citizens crossing the border are being treated.<br /><br />Juan José Uceda, justified his opposition to the border controls, saying the amount of tobacco seized from pedestrians and in vehicles is ‘insignificant’ compared to the 12 metre long containers filled with contraband cigarettes which regularly enter Spanish ports from Asia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We must state that our Present Governor is doing a great job in highlighting that Gibraltar is British and his Christmas message leaves us with no doubt of his support for our Country and people!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This year has been a year of having more UK army/Naval presence since a long time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Listen to Our Governor's Speech -</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> http://www.livestream.com/gbctelevision/video?clipId=pla_9a362261-1e22-4924-bbbd-52624877eb91&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">***********</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>So what would we like or expect for 2015?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">More</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> support from all other EU Countries and non EU also</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More support from the FCO - not just words on illegal incursions!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">More support from UK MPs and MEPs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">More support from the EU Parliament, Commission and Justice institutions and for them to stand up to Spain!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">No more bullying tactics from Spain or their Spanish media.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Our Christmas and New Year Message:</span></span></div>
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To All members, supporters and friends of Defenders of Gibraltar, on behalf of all the committee we wish you and your loved ones a Happy Christmas and or Happy Holidays!</div>
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We will keep on standing up for Gibraltar against any bullying or injustice done to us by Spain or EU!</div>
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We have been working very hard all year round in many ways! The results have been great as our present Governor is very supportive! So on behalf of Gibraltar Thank you Sir James Dutton to living up to your <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">promises!</span></div>
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Thank you to <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=537943311&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A266886966744455%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/fabian.picardo" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Fabian Picardo</a> and Danny Feetham for all your support and guidance!</div>
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Special thanks to <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=599196312&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A266886966744455%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/tommy.finlayson" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Tommy Finlayson</a> and Franz-Josef Odinius and many others for your constant reporting, photos etc!</div>
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Michael Sanchez one of the most great Defenders of Gibraltar don't give up my friend! As is <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000983475019&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A266886966744455%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/SolomonLevyFRICS" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Solomon Momy Levy</a> both great examples of not giving up!</div>
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For 2015 we wish everyone Health, Happiness and Love!</div>
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As Chairperson I would like to thank <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=778926943&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A266886966744455%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=778926943" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Gareth Gingell</a> for all his hard work from the beginning and who still works very hard with many in UK.</div>
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Let us all continue to be vigilant in protecting our Gibraltar, culture, language and our British Gibraltarian identity!</div>
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Thank you also to The Committee!</div>
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<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=665350022&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A266886966744455%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/annemarie.struggles" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Anne-Marie Struggles</a><br />Chairperson</div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-19570577891222767162014-10-05T16:12:00.002+02:002014-10-05T16:12:15.690+02:00Total breach of security now by Air - SPANISH FIGHTER JETS 'ILLEGALLY INVADE' BRITISH AIRSPACE OVER GIBRALTAR <h2 style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; color: #292221; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; transform: none !important;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spanish Jet Fighters entering illegally into Gibraltar Airspace!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Courtesy Express - </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/518873/Gibraltar-airspace-illegally-invaded-Spanish-fighter-jets</span></div>
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Spanish fighter jets illegally invade British airspace over Gibraltar</h1>
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SPANISH fighter jets illegally entered UK airspace to fly “across the bows” of a British airliner in a “reckless and dangerous” stunt over Gibraltar.</h3>
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By: <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/search/Marco+Giannangeli?s=Marco+Giannangeli&b=1" itemprop="name" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; color: #bb1a00; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transform: none !important;">Marco Giannangeli</a></div>
<time datetime="2014-10-05T00:01:00Z" pubdate="" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #b5a19e; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: none !important;">Published: <span itemprop="datePublished" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: none !important;">Sun, October 5, 2014</span></time></div>
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<img alt="Gilbraltar airspace invaded by Spanish fighter jets" src="http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/78/590x/Gilbraltar-airspace-invaded-by-Spanish-fighter-jets-518873.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(0, 0, 0) 0px 0px 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: none !important; vertical-align: middle; width: 590px;" /><span class="photo-caption nointellitxt ctx_blocked" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; background: url(http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/theme/Responsive/img/page/caption_t_fix.png) 0px 0px repeat scroll; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; color: white; font-size: 12px; left: 0px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 10px; position: absolute; right: 0px; transform: none !important; z-index: 2;">The incident is being investigated by the Foreign Office [GETTY]</span></div>
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The incident, being investigated by the Foreign Office, happened as the Monarch flight carrying passengers from Manchester was making its delicate approach on to the Rock, one of the world’s trickiest landings.</div>
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Last night a senior Tory MP called on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to send Spain’s Ambassador to Britain, Federico Trillo, “packing back to Madrid”.</div>
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The Sunday Express has learned the passenger jet’s captain reported seeing the two aircraft less than half a mile away and air traffic controllers at Gibraltar International Airport noticed “two dots” on their radar just before 10.30am on September 19.</div>
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Both jets, thought to be Eurofighter Typhoons, were clearly in Gibraltar airspace without permission but attempts to communicate with them were ignored.</div>
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Last night Gibraltar’s outraged government said the “intolerable” incident marked a new phase in Spain’s deliberate flouting of British sovereignty.</div>
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It is intolerable that Spanish military aircraft are now not only infringing our airspace but also behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner</div>
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A spokesman</div>
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A government spokesman said: “Spanish vessels already regularly violate the sovereignty of our waters. It is intolerable that Spanish military aircraft are now not only infringing our airspace but also behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner.”</div>
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While no commercial airliner has ever crashed while landing at Gibraltar, it is widely regarded as having one of the world’s top 10 most challenging runways, with pilots having to contend with strong winds, the 1.400ft Rock of Gibraltar and the tight envelope of British airspace.</div>
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Last night retired pilot Chris Hammond said: “I used to go there quite regularly. It’s a restricted airfield, which means only specially cleared pilots are allowed to fly there.</div>
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“It presents a challenging approach, especially when wind conditions mean pilots have to make an easterly approach.</div>
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“You need to go inside the harbour and only half if it is British airspace and you are not allowed to stray into Spanish airspace. Then you have to make a last-minute sharp 90 degree turn to the right. That happened less than a mile and half from landing.</div>
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“All your attention is focused on the approach and the last thing you need is to see two unexpected jets where they’re not supposed to be. The real question in the pilot’s mind would have been what they were going to do next.”</div>
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Related articles</h3>
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<li itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Article" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform: none !important;"><var style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border-color: transparent transparent transparent rgb(41, 34, 33); border-style: dashed dashed dashed solid; border-width: 0.53em 0.53em 0.53em 9px; bottom: auto; display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; height: 0px; left: auto; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -2px; transform: none !important; vertical-align: middle; width: 0px;"></var> <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/485874/David-Cameron-is-told-to-take-a-tougher-line-with-Spain-amid-tensions-between-Gibraltar" itemprop="name" style="-webkit-transform: none !important; border: 0px; color: #bb1a00; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transform: none !important;">David Cameron is told to 'get off the fence' amid tensions between Spain and Gibraltar</a></li>
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Andrew Rosindell MP, chairman of the parliamentary Overseas Territory group, said: “My committee is com-pletely shocked by the weakness of the Foreign Office in addressing the Spanish issue and its failure to tackle what Madrid is doing. We are pussyfooting around while Spain is running rings around us. It is outrageous that Spain continues to behave in such an irresponsible and bullying fashion.</div>
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“Spain refuses to let British military jets fly over Spanish airspace on the way to Gibraltar even though they are partners in Nato, yet they think it’s fine to enter British airspace illegally and potentially distract an airliner as it is trying to safely land on the Rock.</div>
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“It’s time that the British Government sent the Spanish Ambassador packing back to Madrid. We are fed up with the bullying and intimidation from Spain, and it’s time we showed we are no longer prepared to put up with it.”</div>
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Mr Trillo, Spain’s ambassador to Britain since 2012, has been formally summoned to the Foreign Office on three occasions in the past 12 months over repeated Spanish incursions into British waters around Gibraltar and massive delays for drivers at the border caused by heavy-handed Spanish frontier guards.</div>
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Last night a Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident on September 19. We are reassured that there was no risk to safety caused by the activity of the jets.</div>
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“We are continuing to examine the incident to ascertain whether it was within the lawful right of passage.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 30px; text-transform: uppercase;">Courtesy Gibraltar Chronicle- </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; text-transform: uppercase;">http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=34734</span></span></h3>
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SPANISH FIGHTER JETS 'ILLEGALLY INVADE' BRITISH AIRSPACE OVER GIBRALTAR - REPORT</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spanish fighter jets illegally entered UK airspace to fly “across the bows” of a British airliner in a “reckless and dangerous” stunt over Gibraltar, according to a report in the Sunday Express.<br /><br />The incident, being investigated by the Foreign Office, happened as the Monarch flight carrying passengers from Manchester was making its delicate approach on to the Rock, the UK newspaper reported in a front page article.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> The Sunday Express said the passenger jet’s captain reported seeing the two aircraft less than half a mile away and air traffic controllers at Gibraltar International Airport noticed “two dots” on their radar just before 10.30am on September 19.<br /><br />According to the report, both jets, thought to be Eurofighter Typhoons, were clearly in Gibraltar airspace without permission but attempts to communicate with them were ignored.<br /><br />A Foreign Office spokesman told the Sunday Express: “We are aware of the incident on September 19. We are reassured that there was no risk to safety caused by the activity of the jets.”<br /><br />“We are continuing to examine the incident to ascertain whether it was within the lawful right of passage.”<br /><br />A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: “Spanish vessels already regularly violate the sovereignty of our waters.”<br /><br />“It is intolerable that Spanish military aircraft are now not only infringing our airspace but also behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner.”<br /><br />PRECEDENT<br /><br />This is not the first time that Spanish military jets have flown close to the Rock.<br /><br />In July last year, the Chronicle reported on how four Spanish jets “buzzed” the Rock and delay to a commercial flight.<br /><br />The four planes – the Spanish version of the Harrier jet – were flying back to the Spanish aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, which was on a training exercise about 10 miles southeast off the Rock.<br /><br />The jets approached the Rock from the northwest before turning east out into the Mediterranean and south toward the ship.<br /><br />Eyewitnesses said the Matador jets flew in from behind Los Barrios and very close to the north end of the Rock.<br /><br />Britain’s Ministry of Defence played down the incident at the time and insisted there was no evidence to suggest the Spanish planes entered Gibraltar airspace.<br /><br />But the planes flew close enough to generate alarm and prompt an angry response from the Gibraltar Government.<br /><br />On the tarmac in Gibraltar, the outbound British Airways flight was delayed by 12 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">In the last few months we have had numerous illegal incursions by sea by the para military and the Spanish Navy. Also numerous incursions on illegal fishing. Not only that, we have constant </span><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">harassment</span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> by Spanish Para </span><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">military</span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> trying to enforce jurisdiction in our British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">What is UK government doing about all this? - simple answer NOTHING! We are just a pawn in a bigger political game and we are - as a people and as a country being sacrificed and undermined! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">We are at the mercy of </span><span style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b><u>pencil pushers</u></b></span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> in the Foreign Office (FCO) these people who have no clue of who we are or where we are! These people who think Gibraltar is in Malta - these people who call us Gibraltese or Gibraltans!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">How can we ever expect the UK Government or their FCO to do their job if they have no real knowledge about our people - our culture etc.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">Recently we have heard and read how our </span><span style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>own Governor</b></span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> is not aware and he is here with us! IF he thinks and says that we are an insular kind of people - this is exactly what the FCO think about us too! This is not acceptable! They believe this only because we demand that they keep to our Constitution that clearly states and they accepted that they (that is UK Government and FCO) - are </span><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">responsible</span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> for the security of Gibraltar and our Foreign affairs!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b><u>So now when the shit hits the fan - where is their action?</u></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>as per our constitution - Governor’s special responsibilities </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>47.-(1) The Governor, acting in his discretion, shall be responsible in Gibraltar for </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>the conduct (subject to this Constitution and any other law) of the following matters – </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(a) external affairs; </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(b) defence; </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(c) internal security, including (subject to section 48) the police; </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b> </b></span></span><b style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">(d) such functions in relation to appointments to public offices and related matters </b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>as are conferred on him by this Constitution: </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b> Provided that the Governor shall in respect of external affairs as far as practicable </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>act in consultation with the Chief Minister. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(2) For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that any matter which falls outside the </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>special responsibilities of the Governor set out in subsection (1), or which is not a </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>function which this Constitution or any other law requires the Governor to exercise in </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>his discretion, is the responsibility of Ministers. 38</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(3) Without prejudice to the United Kingdom’s responsibility for Gibraltar’s </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>compliance with European Union law, matters which under this Constitution are the </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>responsibility of Ministers shall not cease to be so even though they arise in the </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>context of the European Union. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>(4) The exercise by the Governor of his responsibility for external affairs and </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>defence is without prejudice to the overall responsibility of Her Majesty’s </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>Government in the United Kingdom for these matters. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">It </span><span style="line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">looks</span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"> like once again UK Government wants to be the peace maker on an issue that would stop being an issue if only UK Government was honest and truthful and told SPAIN to keep off and out of Gibraltar! The same stance shown to the people of The Falklands is the same stance we want! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">Really is Petrol and Oil more important than 30,000 British Gibraltarians?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><b>We now have to educate our present Governor Sir James Dutton and remove the FCO brainwashing thinking - which we will do as we always do by showing them the people we really are and not what they have been blindly taught!</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;">Anne-Marie Struggles</span></span></span></div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-38759376874079973582014-08-23T22:33:00.001+02:002014-08-24T12:07:10.902+02:00Spain endangers arrival of nuclear submarines by leaking information via their own Spanish press<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, here we go again. Our supposed NATO friend and neighbour once again has behaved in a reckless manner endangering one of its allies! <br /><br />On the 21/8/14 the USS Annapolis came for a short visit to the Royal Naval base in Gibraltar. The information on its arrival was known by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, which then appears to have leaked this information to the Spanish press. The Spanish press then published this information prior to the submarines arrival. <br /><br />The Spanish press, by releasing this information, was knowingly endangering the submarine, it's crew and the surrounding area. It is well known, that no military information is given to the public about the arrivals or departures of nuclear submarines for obvious security and force protection reasons, The people who leaked this information were clearly well informed; information like this is very very difficult to come by. <br /><br />The USS Annapolis is a Los Angeles type sub.This submarine is nuclear powered, it carries mark 8 torpedoes, tomahawk missiles and captor mines.<br /><br />The leaking of the submarines location could have resulted in a dangerous situation, which could have resulted in the submarine being on the receiving en of a terrorist attack; all because of our irresponsible neighbour Spain having a grudge with Gibraltar!<br /><br />An attack on this submarine could have seriously endangered the lives of people in Gibraltar and all the surrounding Campo area! This could have also negatively affected SPains own citizens outside Gibraltar!<br /></span><img height="261" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Fast_attack_submarine_USS_Annapolis_(SSN_760).jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the 22/08/14, HMS Talent (British nuclear submarine) which came into port was on this occasion obstructed by a Spanish Guardia civil boat. The GC åurposefully broke the security cordon around the submarine - which lead to the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Navy patrol boat having to intervene to warn the vessel off and subsequently escort the Spanish Paramilitary vessel out of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, <br /><br />The British and Gibraltar security forces have enough on their hands protecting these vessels, to have the paramilitaries of another nation interfering with their work! What if one of these Guardia Civil vessels had been commandeered by a terrorist group? It would make it very difficult for the GDP or Royal Navy to know what to do! That is if to stop them or just let it go as it is supposed to be the vessel of a NATO Ally who seems not to understand what security is all about! <br /><br />Spain is supposed to be a NATO Ally and behaves in a manner that it is not supposed to. Someone needs to teach them a thing or two before they cause an international incident! It seems they do this just to intimidate Gibraltarians who are the 30 thousand people that live next door, and to make the Royal Navy look bad.<br /><br />Gibraltar, or better said British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, suffer hundreds of incursions every year as the Spanish Government refuses to recognise that UK have clear sovereignty over these waters,<br /><br />Well this time they have gone over what any NATO Ally should have to put up with! This is definitely not what is expected of Spain! They continue unchallenged and are putting all Allies at risk and that is not very intelligent at all! Sadly, this rampant childish behaviour is what we have come to expect from an immature neighbour to the north. This child needs to be introduced to a good spanking or the naughty step! Maybe then they will learn.<br /><br /><br /><b>Press report + Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation</b><br />Unlawful incursion: Guardia Civil crosses path of Royal Navy submarine<br /><br /><br />A Civil Guard launch crossed the path of a nuclear powered submarine on its way to the Naval Base on Friday morning. In response to GBC questions, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office has described it as a “very serious incident”, and confirmed the FCO has already raised the matter with the Spanish Government.<br /><br />HMS Talent was in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters when the Guardia Civil launch, the Rio Tormes, came towards it, behaving in what’s been described by the FCO as a “dangerous manner”. The Foreign Office says it will be issuing a formal written protest over this unlawful incursion, going on to say that given that the incident involved considerable risk and danger, it’s already raised concerns directly with Spain.<br /><br />HMS Talent is the second submarine to berth on the Rock this week, after the American nuclear powered submarine Annapolis came in on Thursday. Advance notice was given in the Spanish media of HMS Talent’s arrival, despite the fact that submarine movements are generally kept secret for security reasons.<br /><br />Spanish national newspaper El Mundo published an article about the two submarines to be berthed at the Rock. It looked ahead to the arrival of HMS Talent, citing unnamed sources who’d said they would probably coincide in port. Asked by GBC how the Spanish authorities – and subsequently the media - were aware of HMS Talent’s movements, an FCO spokesperson said for security reasons, it doesn’t comment on operational matters referring to ship visits.<br /><br />The minesweeper, HMS Ramsey also stopped over yesterday on her way home. She conducted a security sweep of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters before stocking up on supplies.<br /><br />(Photos courtesy of Tommy Finlayson)<br /><br /><br /><img height="225" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/10620195_10152365990071313_4667706269968603517_o.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img height="225" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10511691_10152365991461313_3495685969121845786_o.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img height="225" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10531361_10152365993911313_2977429643431484444_o.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />On another note, we also have the Spanish government agreeing with the EU on sanctions against Russia due to the problems in Ukraine. But Spain violates these high level agreements and again as a NATO Ally by allowing the refuelling of Russian fleet ships in its port in Ceuta Surely not a very reliable NATO are they!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Is Spain playing games with the EU and NATO? Spain has the cheek to ask for a seat in the UN Security Council! + God help us all if they did as it seems that they don't know what side they are on! Can you now imagine the danger if they had to make a decision that could affect the whole world? The UN security council should never allow Spain to gain a seat; how can you give such responsibility to a country which hides the horrors of its dictatorship and pretends like nothing happened! A country which still celebrates and venorates the horrors it committed!<br /><br />I think the Spanish government should get rid of that chip on its shoulder with Gibraltar which has been going on for over 300 years, They need to be reprimanded on their childish behaviour as by doing stupid moves like the ones I have mentioned, Spain is putting the well-being of many people at risk - including their own!<br /><br />The worst now is they are trying to deny it - Spain is a joke but a very bad one! Here is the link of the video taken by Tommy Finlayson - <a href="http://youtu.be/TKDW6espEuo">http://youtu.be/TKDW6espEuo</a><br /><b><br />Gerald Struggles</b></span></div>
Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-13986589739728958002014-08-21T13:19:00.002+02:002014-08-21T13:27:19.019+02:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /><br />SPAIN CREATES POLITICALLY MOTIVATED FRONTIER QUEUES<br /><br /><br /> CAUSES HAVOC FOR TOURISTS, LOCALS AND CROSS FRONTIER WORKERS STUCK IN SUMMER HEAT<br /><br /><br /> WHERE IS THE EU AND THE UK? WHERE IS THEIR CONDEMNATION? ARE GIBRALTARIANS TO BE DENIED RIGHT TO FREE MOVEMENT DUE TO SPANISH FASCISM?</b><br /><br /> <br /> -------------------------------<br /> DATE - THURSDAY 21st AUGUST<br />-------------------------------<br />LOCATION - GIBRALTAR<br />-------------------------------<br />SUBJECT - POLITICALLY MOTIVATED FRONTIER QUEUES<br />-------------------------------<br />DURATION OF QUEUES - 4 HOURS PLUS<br />-------------------------------<br />TEMPERATURE - 30 DEGRESS CELCIUS</span><div>
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Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-74223357108593371312014-08-14T20:47:00.001+02:002014-08-14T20:47:08.840+02:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">POLITICAL SEVERE WEATHER WARNING</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know that in times of trouble, the Spanish Government can be predictably relied upon to pull out the Gibraltar card in order to distract the inhabitants of Spain from the real issues such as:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The protests against the Royal Family,<br /><br />The corruption of the Royal Family,<br /><br />The corruption of the Government,<br /><br />The corruption of the elite PP,<br /><br />The desire of Cataluna to be separate from Spain<br /><br />The economic disaster Spain is in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nothing however, can compare to the huge storm brewing on the horizon, which is the potential collapse of Spains economy. <br /><br /><br />Recent statistics released by the Spanish Government have shown how its debt has INCREASED to:<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">***1.007 TRILLION EUROS***</span></b><br /><br /><br />That figure is equivalent to <b>98.5%</b> of Spains GDP in 2013 - it will be <b>100%</b> or more by the start of 2015. For reference, Spain's public debt is expected to top 100 per cent of GDP next year – far above the 60 percent ceiling agreed among European Union members.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Remember that the current situation in Spain has <b>parallels with Argentina</b> in 1981, where Argentina had been in the midst of a <b>devastating economic stagnation</b> and large-scale civil unrest against the military junta that had been governing the country since 1976. By choosing to invade the Falklands, the Argentine government had hoped to <b>rally nationalistic and patriotic feelings</b> of Argentines towards the islands, and in doing so <b>divert attention from the country's dire and drastic economic problems</b>, as well as the regime's ongoing human rights abuses.<br /><br /><br />Now I hope that Spain does not choose to go the way of Argentina, but the clouds gathering on the horizon cannot be ignored, especially when we see the increase of lies about Gibraltar flying unhindered through the Spanish airways; lies designed to dehumanise us Gibraltarians.<br /><br /><br />The one consolation here, is that us British Gibraltarians are pretty good at weathering storms.<br /><br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Mr Gareth R Gingell<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8372164061051490882.post-78616193078159792382014-08-12T12:05:00.000+02:002014-08-12T13:45:49.839+02:00COVER UPS IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD RELATIONS?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday 9th August 2014, an incident of particular importance occurred in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, where a Guardia Civil drew a weapon and rammed a fishing vessel.<br /><br />Although officially under investigation by the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP), the silence associated with this incident is deafening, particularly from the Gibraltar Government and the FCO - are they trying to brush it aside in the interests of patching up an already deteriorating relationship with Spain?<br /><br /><br /><b>THE INCIDENT ITSELF</b><br /><br /><br />On Saturday 9th August, in British waters just south of the lighthouse, two Gibraltarians were peacefully fishing in their small vessel (one of these individuals is a Civil servant). Sources have informed us that a Guardia Civil vessel approached the local boat and came alongside whilst still in BGTW, asking for the boat’s documents (this is a clear attempt to exert jurisdiction in British Waters). The person in control of the vessel then informed the Guardia Civil that as they were inside British waters they were under no obligation to comply with the request.<br /><br /><br /><b>This is where it goes from bad to worse....</b><br /><br /><br />The Guardia Civil, obviously disenchanted and potentially deflated by such a pointed and informed reply, insisted in exercising jurisdictional control; one of the Guardia Civil members then drew a side arm and pointed it at the civil servant on board the fishing boat.<br /><br />The individual in control of the fishing boat switched on the engine and fled from the area full-throttle, where they were then chased by the Guardia Civil vessel and rammed on 2 occasions. The RGP eventually arrived at the scene where the Guardia Civil alleged that the local fishing vessel had rammed their vessel (a fishing boat ram a large Guardia Civil paramilitary vessel? I wonder which smart cookie cooked that one up). The Guardia Civil expressed their intent to arrest the individuals and convey their vessel to Algeciras, but were told in no uncertain terms by the RGP crew which attended that this was not allowed.<br /><br /><br /><b>SILENCE IS GOLDEN</b><br /><br /><br />Well it seems to all and sundry that this incident is being brushed under the carpet by the Convent, the UK Government, the Gibraltar Government and more than likely the RGP - why? If we look at it logically, it appears at first to be in the interests of all at this precarious moment; they would like to believe that these incidents are outside of the norm and to be set aside in the hope of an improvement in the relationship with Spain; and therein lies the fault. <br /><br />The powers that be are hoping, hoping and praying, that the status quo will get better. Over the last 2 1/2 years, the powers that be have barked more than their bite, letting diplomacy take its course against a foe who perceives diplomacy as weakness and a sign that more action is needed. In that time, we have seen incident after incident after incident. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is despite the fact that just last year, the Guardia Civil were running around like cowboys shooting at locals on jet skis:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23044236">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23044236</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Video of Incident</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br />I now find myself completely agreeing with a local journalist, Leo Olivero, who recently said in an article:<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Many people will find it difficult to accept that such a serious allegation on such a high-profile issue of great public interest, can be treated from a public perspective in such a low key fashion, not only by the RGP by making a one line comment but by the Government and the Convent.<br /><br />The news also came on the day that Gibraltar was being bashed left, right and centre by the whole of the Spanish press after interpreting the EU’s Anti-Fraud Office’s letter as a massive victory for the PP Government, which for them justifies everything they are doing with the frontier controls. Here we had a serious incident in BGTW involving a civil servant, or it could have been anyone else for that matter. A story that could have poured cold water on the Spanish euphoria yesterday!<br /><br />But again, Gibraltar got it wrong with the moral high ground syndrome, unlike the Spanish who do it so well, and use the news to their advantage, we are light years behind I am afraid."</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also been told off the record by sources that the GoG has been adamant in enforcing the view that the witnesses statements were wrong, and that they were in Spanish waters. <br /><br />My advice to you if you are a local with a sea faring vessel... be prepared to lay on the sacrificial altar, if this incident is anything to go by im afraid...<br /><br />By Gareth R Gingell</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Article by Leo Olivero on incident can be read <a href="http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/headlines.php?action=view_article&article=12244&offset=0" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><br /><br />-------------------</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UPDATE*****</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 hour after posting this blog update, the Gibraltar Government issued this press release - what a coincidence :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Defenders of Gibraltarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07622001407428995817noreply@blogger.com1