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Gibraltar: UK summons Spanish ambassador Gibraltar: UK summons Spanish ambassador
(35 minutes later)
The Foreign Office says it has summoned Spain's ambassador to the UK after a Spanish ship entered waters off Gibraltar.The Foreign Office says it has summoned Spain's ambassador to the UK after a Spanish ship entered waters off Gibraltar.
It said the RV Ramon Margalef undertook surveying activity on 18 and 19 November for over 20 hours.It said the RV Ramon Margalef undertook surveying activity on 18 and 19 November for over 20 hours.
David Lidington, the UK's Minister for Europe, said he "strongly condemned this provocative incursion".David Lidington, the UK's Minister for Europe, said he "strongly condemned this provocative incursion".
He told MPs the UK has made repeated diplomatic protests over the incursions in recent months. He told MPs the UK has made repeated diplomatic protests over incursions in recent months.
"When challenged by radio, the vessel responded that it was conducting survey work with the permission of the Spanish authorities and in the interests of the European Community", Mr Lidington said."When challenged by radio, the vessel responded that it was conducting survey work with the permission of the Spanish authorities and in the interests of the European Community", Mr Lidington said.
"This comes only two weeks after dangerous manoeuvres by a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel in the vicinity of Royal Navy vessels in British waters put lives at risk and resulted in a minor collision"."This comes only two weeks after dangerous manoeuvres by a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel in the vicinity of Royal Navy vessels in British waters put lives at risk and resulted in a minor collision".
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the waters around Gibraltar are indisputably British territorial waters, he said.According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the waters around Gibraltar are indisputably British territorial waters, he said.
The minister said Spain had increased unlawful incursions by its state vessels into UK territorial waters from around five per month to around 40 per month. However, Spain disputes UK sovereignty over Gibraltar, a limestone outcrop known as the Rock near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, which has been ruled by Britain since 1713.
"I strongly condemn this provocative incursion and urge the Spanish government to ensure that it is not repeated. We stand ready to do whatever is required to protect Gibraltar's sovereignty, economy and security," Mr Lidlington said. The minister said Spain had increased unlawful incursions by its state vessels into UK territorial waters from around five per month to around 40 per month. He said he urged the Spanish government to ensure the incident was not repeated.
"We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, Gibraltar and Britain to avoid incidents such as this that damage the prospects for establishing dialogue and co-operation. "We stand ready to do whatever is required to protect Gibraltar's sovereignty, economy and security," Mr Lidlington said.
"We remain confident of UK sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar, including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and will respect the wishes of the people of Gibraltar." "We believe that it is in the interests of Spain, Gibraltar and Britain to avoid incidents such as this that damage the prospects for establishing dialogue and co-operation."
'Intolerable intrusion'
Matthew Rycroft, the acting permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, is summoning the Spanish ambassador to the UK, H E Federico Trillo, "in order to underline the British government's serious concerns regarding an ongoing incursion into British Gibraltar territorial waters," the Foreign Office said.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said it was the third time the Spanish ambassador had been publicly summoned over the conduct of Spain towards Gibraltar.
The Ministry of Defence said the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron's fast patrol boats HMS Sabre and HMS Scimitar challenged the RV Ramon Margalef's presence - no-one was injured and no equipment or vessel was damaged, it added.
The Gibraltar government condemned what it said was "an intolerable intrusion" which represented "yet another escalation of Spain's campaign against Gibraltar on land and at sea".
It said the Spanish vessel came within 250 metres of the entrance to Gibraltar Harbour and was close to other ships at anchor.
Labour's shadow Europe minister Gareth Thomas said any ship entering British waters around Gibraltar would be "provocative and unlawful".