Albares transfers to London his "strong protest" over three "serious incidents" in Spanish waters near Gibraltar

MADRID, 30 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has transferred to the United Kingdom his "strong protest" for the "unjustifiable" presence of British ships in Spanish waters around Gibraltar and the three "serious incidents" occurred in connection with these during the month of August.

His department sent a verbal note to the United Kingdom Embassy in Madrid on Monday, as reported by 'El País' and diplomatic sources have confirmed to Europa Press, to transfer the protest of the Spanish Government for these events that have occurred in the waters of Spanish sovereignty.

Specifically, Foreign Affairs has cited three specific incidents. The first of these, which occurred on July 1, is related to the spill of fuel carried out by a methane tanker while it was refueling from another ship through the so-called 'bunkering'.

The second occurred on August 14, when a Customs Surveillance Service (SVA) vessel saw its work hindered by three British vessels while chasing a Gibraltar auxiliary ship that it intercepted in Spanish waters.

The last of these took place on August 21, when a Spanish fishing vessel was also harassed in waters close to Gibraltar under Spanish sovereignty. Precisely because of this event, the mayor of Gibraltar and PP senator, José Ignacio Landaluce, and the Junta de Andalucía had asked the Foreign Ministry to intervene in this event.

In addition to exposing the incidents, Foreign Affairs reaffirms in the note the Spanish position regarding the waters adjacent to the Rock, reaffirming that only what is stipulated in the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 by which Spain ceded Gibraltar to the United Kingdom is recognized, and makes it clear that it will not tolerate a fait accompli policy on this issue.