Minister Swire condemns Spanish incursions

The Foreign Office of the United Kingdom (FCO) complained on the 9 August 2015 that Spanish vessels had entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters earlier in the day in a clear violation of the international law of the sea.

It was thought that Spanish police chasing criminals had made several incursions into British waters. The chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, said the incursions were an illegal and dangerous display of bravado.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry denied any wrongdoing. 'The waters are Spanish', an official from the ministry was reported to have said.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: Madrid, London and Gibraltar to resume talks on an ad hoc basi http://www.europeansources.info/record/madrid-london-and-gibraltar-to-resume-talks-on-an-ad-hoc-basis/

UK: FCO: Tag: UK and Gibraltar https://www.gov.uk/government/world/gibraltar

The Guardian, 10.08.15: Row after Spanish government sends boats into UK waters around Gibraltar http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/09/row-spanish-government-boats-uk-waters-gibraltar

Spain: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation / Spanish: Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación: Press Release, No.199, 2015 (03.08.15): State Secretary for Foreign Affairs reiterates proposal to re-launch ad-hoc regional cooperation mechanism in Campo de Gibraltar to United Kingdom http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/SalaDePrensa/NotasdePrensa/Paginas/2015_NOTAS_P/20150803_NOTA199.aspx

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EurActiv, 10.08.15: UK accuses Spain of violating its sovereignty over Gibraltar http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/uk-accuses-spain-violating-its-sovereignty-over-gibraltar-316829

ESO: Background information: ‘Brexit’ would destroy Gibraltar http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-would-destroy-gibraltar/

El País, 10.08.15: Britain accuses Spain of illegally entering Gibraltarian waters http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/08/10/inenglish/1439197223_231387.html

The Local.es, 10.08.15: Spain 'violates' Gibraltar territory in drug chase http://www.thelocal.es/20150810/spain-accused-of-violating-gibraltar

Deutsche Welle, 09.08.15: Britain accuses Spain of violating Gibraltar sovereignty after drugs chase http://dw.com/p/1GCU1

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The Conversation, 13.08.15: Gibraltar’s contested waters: it’s time to settle this unedifying spat https://theconversation.com/gibraltars-contested-waters-its-time-to-settle-this-unedifying-spat-46060

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