- Title: GIBRALTAR: British navy arrives in Gibraltar amid tension with Spain
- Date: 19th August 2013
- Summary: GIBRALTAR (AUGUST 19, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMALL BOAT SAILING NEAR GIBRALTAR'S PORT BOAT SAILING / SHIP BRITISH FLAGS / PORT READING ROYAL NAVY IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF MONKEYS VIEW OF GIBRALTAR BRITISH FLAG HANGING FROM WINDOW VARIOUS OF FRIGATE HMS WESTMINSTER APPROACHING GIBRALTAR'S PORT VARIOUS OF HMS WESTMINSTER BEING TOWED TO THE PORT FRIGATE ARRIVING AT PORT VARIOUS OF FRIGATE ARRIVING AT PORT / CREW ON THE DECK PEOPLE WATCHING THE SHIP FROM THE PORT / FRIGATE PASSING BY STERN OF THE WESTMINSTER FRIGATE DOCKED
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gibraltar
- City:
- Country: Gibraltar
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3DN6EL6Y6ZZPWPQRKKHWVZWMY
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: British warships arrived in Gibraltar on Monday (August 19) for scheduled exercises amid tensions with Spain over fishing around the British Mediterranean enclave.
Although British, Spanish and Gibraltarian authorities have said the navy's arrival at the British overseas territory is long-scheduled, some in Spain see it as provocative.
At about 0715 GMT the frigate HMS Westminster was seen approaching the port of Gibraltar flanked by two smaller ships.
Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef with concrete blocks, which Spanish fishermen say blocks their access to certain waters, has prompted Spain to toughen its border checks, leading to long queues for workers and tourists entering Gibraltar.
Spain claims the territory, population just 30,000, which it ceded to Britain by treaty 300 years ago.
In Monday's German Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo accused the Spanish government of creating conflict to distract attention from corruption allegations against the ruling People's Party.
Picardo said the concrete reef was necessary to help marine life recover from overfishing.
As well as tightening border controls, Spain has threatened to charge tourists a 50 euro ($67) border levy, restrict the use of Spanish air space or block Gibraltar's lucrative ship fuelling business.
While Spain has threatened to take its claim to Gibraltar to the United Nations, Britain has asked the European Commission urgently to send monitors to verify whether the border checks breach EU rules. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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