APPENDIX 3
FCO Press Release, Friday 29 January 1999
GIBRALTAR
The Foreign Office has issued the following
statement:
Last October, there was a series of confrontations
in the waters round Gibraltar. We discussed these with the Spanish
Government. There was of course no agreement to break Gibraltar's
law. However, we did agree with the Spanish Government that we
should revert to the more harmonious situation that prevailed
between 1991-1997. We reached an understanding on what that situation
had involved. During that period, fishing vessels had entered
Gibraltar waters in limited numbers. They kept away from provocative
and sensitive locations including Admiralty waters, and when the
Royal Gibraltar Police asked them to move on, they did so. The
Police enforced the law on that basis.
So far, despite all our efforts, it has not been
possible to restore this harmony as we had wished. We remain committed
to doing so. This will require further discussion to clear up
areas of misunderstanding, and local dialogue with the fishermen.
Whatever the disagreement over fishing, there
can be no justification for demonstrators obstructing and delaying
innocent travellers at the border between Gibraltar and Spain.
We have raised the matter with the Spanish authorities and have
urged them to make it possible for movement across the border
to take place in conformity with EU obligations. British Ministers
express strong support for the people of Gibraltar, and for other
travellers who have been inconvenienced today.
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