11 May
Spain, having attempted to scratch away at the Rock, but to no avail, is now trying, using Single European Sky as a pretext, to the grab the substance of the 'Isthmus' but, alas, finding it slipping between her fingers.
This is because Gibraltar Airport, its runway and the land up to the border are, like Spain's claim to the 'Isthmus', built on sand. To understand how tenuous Spain's grip on Gibraltar's sand really is, we must release ourselves from the notional snare that the space separating Gibraltar from the 'Hinterland' is an Isthmus at all. It is not. An Isthmus is a strip of land separating two other land entities, but the substance separating these two is sand - and sand is not land. It is a Tombola or more pertinently, the Gibraltar Sandbank, mounded by wave refraction from what is now termed Gibraltarian and Spanish territorial waters.
SANDBANK
It is the accumulation of the pulverised shells and rocks of the seabed and, as such, Spain is no more 'connected' to Gibraltar than she, were she to drain the oceans, would find herself 'connected' to Ceuta and Mellilla. And just as Spain persists in calling Gibraltar's border the 'fence' - which it isn't - so shall we cease to recognise the existence of a Gibraltarian 'Isthmus' and instead designate it the Sandbank - which it is.
Gibraltar is an island, riven from the seabed by the same forces that created Dorset's Jurassic Coast and with which it shares many geological similarities. This is why the island has a distinctive slope on the West Side, the side once in true with the seabed and a more vertical East Side with its exposed limestone walls that once lay hidden beneath it. The island was for millennia permanently surrounded by water and became a tidal island relatively recently. In this respect Gibraltar has much more in common with Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, Cornwall's St Michael's Mount and Northumberland's Holy Isle of Lindisfarne than with any tangible land bridge such as the Isthmus of East Falkland.
Until the British built the causeway across the Sandbank, the latter was completely covered with water at high tide - see the photographs in the Customs Building for examples of this. In this respect the British in the 19th century, by moving the frontier to where it now remains, pre-empted the 1982 UNCLOS treaty and thus claimed unwittingly what later would have been claimed lawfully. As that treaty, and that of the UN Self Determination Resolution 1514, supersedes older, conflicting treaties, Utrecht is dead in the water, as it were. As it was, in any case, from 1727, when Spain decided it was not content with a certain article of the 1713 treaty, declared it null and void and launched an attack on the Rock.
RECLAMATION OF LAND
Let us have no more talk about the 'Isthmus' , the moribund Utrecht Treaty or the 'Hinterland' - actually the Spanish mainland. Let us also not be deflected by the fact that the Sandbank has been built upon - from both sides - with the airport in the case of Gibraltar and La Linea in the case of Spain. Since Gibraltar is an island which was, until recently, separated by water from the mainland, the built-up area between the base of the rock and the border is simply a reclamation of land from BGTW under the auspices of the 1982 UNCLOS treaty and in substance no different from the current East Side reclamation project. The Sandbank is neither Spain's to claim nor Spain's to cede.
There might be difficulties establishing just where Spanish land ends and the Sandbank begins since La Linea stands upon much of one, or the other. Given the palpable flatness of the land to the north though it is probable that the sea cover may have reached as far as what is now Santa Margarita. It might therefore be prudent for Spain to accept the de facto, if not the de jure, reality of the division of the Sandbank and Gibraltar's immutable borders.
-Johan Lachs
11-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
FCO has a 20 strong Gibraltar Desk task force… But what are they actually doing?
May 11, 2015
Possibly one of the most talked about and certainly criticised national issues is the defence of Gibraltar against the on-going Spanish hostilities. Particularly, the FCO's response or lack of, when the Spanish Government engage and implement their blatant anti-Gibraltar policy!
So how does the FCO respond? Last week I penned a report where I said it would be totally justifiable to say, the FCO as far as Gibraltar was concerned have been 'Diplomatically Brain Dead' for years. In fact, they have been atrociously useless in their defence of Gibraltar!
It really has been an incredibly frustrating and depressingly sad time for the people of Gibraltar as far as the FCO is concerned who have sat back and watched while the Spanish Government continues its assault on the Rock and its people.
To many the FCO and British Government do have a Gibraltar-Spanish related policy, one in preserving and maintaining the much treasured and far more important
UK-Spanish interests. This policy will not change even with a new Conservative Government, who will now be out all over Europe, canvassing support for any proposed UK-EU membership changes.
Rock Not Alone 20 FCO Staff Looking Out For Us But What are They Doing?
Which brings me, to some very interesting but important information received by Panorama and 'attributed to an FCO spokesperson in London' who has surprisingly revealed, that Gibraltar is not alone and that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are with us? It certainly does not look that way!
According to the information passed on to this newspaper, which will surprise many people 'the FCO have 20 members of staff 'working on the Gibraltar desk. This number we are told, is divided between the FCO London desk and the one here at the Convent.
In fact if these figures are correct, because at first glance they are difficult to believe, even if they did come from inside FCO HQ in London SW1 you immediately have to ask' Just what are they doing for Gibraltar?
And considering, the very low key, bottom gear manner the FCO generally handles the Gibraltar problem with the Spanish Government?
FCO staffing levels have been an issue that has been discussed in the recent past, one that Panorama has probed in previous reports. Importantly however, it is also a matter that the Foreign Affairs Committee last year delved into quite intensely.
FCO Always Reluctant to Give Gibraltar Desk Staffing Levels
I appreciate the FCO both here at the Convent and back in London are always reserved and reluctant to reveal staffing level numbers. But the fact that this is an issue of public interest, does in my opinion, instantly overrule the position of the FCO regarding its Gibraltar desk staffing levels, as our responsibility as a public news source is to seek this information if possible and then report on it.
Panorama spent 3 days last week conducting enquires and waiting to receive this information before someone came back from London with the news about the Gibraltar desk, which had apparently grown 20 strong a mini FCO task force.
The information we sought, took quite a while to come through, we thought someone was actually conducted a physical head count and obvious deliberations before this information was received. Although the source would not get drawn into specific postings/grades and figures at the desk in London compared to the numbers at the Convent desk!
Although if these figures are correct and to be believed, why are the FCO seeking new blood by actively recruiting for its Gibraltar complement, with the news of them advertising for a 'research analyst' for its London Gib desk. The FCO in fact appears to be looking for a dynamic individual, which appears ominous to others already in place. The job advertisement for the new position says the prospective candidate could play an influential role in a fascinating and complex policy area because history and precedent, the FCO say, plays an intrinsic part in this area of European affairs and considered alongside the island's (Gibraltar) long-standing sovereignty dispute and the governance issues pertaining to an overseas territory. Certainly, whoever drafted the advertisement needs to be given a map and an instant refresher course on Gibraltar's geography… tut-tut 'Gibraltar an Island' Although I don't buy, into blaming others like the recruitment agency for the latter gaff!!!
I am though surprised if not highly suspect, regarding the figure provided? Especially that our diplomatic interest is now actively served by a 20 strong team of FCO personal. This is one important point that is definitely not reflected in anything tangible on the ground, or by anything else by way of any FCO policy decisions taken regarding any Gibraltar related issue. This does not include of course, the famous 'paper protest' the FCO say they make to Spanish BGTW incursions. Which if the 20 strong Gibraltar FCO task force figure is correct, these 'paper protest' to the Spanish Government possible accounts for the bulk of the work carried out by the dynamic diplomatic FCO Gibraltar teams both in the UK and in Gibraltar.
Not Just Panorama Asking About Staffing Numbers
However, it's not just Panorama who have questioned the staffing levels at the FCO where Gibraltar is concerned. Last year the 'Foreign Affairs Committee' (FAC) also Probed FCO Staffing numbers here in Gibraltar.
Last year the FAC heard evidence from a cluster of high-level individuals both from the FCO and here in Gibraltar when they conducted one of their evidence gathering sessions here on the Rock and where the Chief Minister was asked to comment on this issue.
The Chief Minister in his diplomatic best informed the FAC that the workings of the Governor's Office are complex in the sense that they are not the workings of a Foreign Office posting. The Governor the CM said, has to fulfill a constitutional duty, which he said is sometimes a difficult balancing act between representing to the Government of Gibraltar what the views of the United Kingdom are and representing back to the United Kingdom. The Government of Gibraltar Mr. Picardo added had seen a reduction in the staff available to the Governor's Office in recent years. At the same time as the issues with Spain had become increasingly problematic'.
Mr. Picardo also adding, the staffing levels that might have been appropriate at a time under the trilateral process when the Cordoba agreement was in place when there was less conflict had grown… In his view the CM told the FAC that staffing levels or resources were suffering at that moment!
Back in London also last year and a month after Mr. Picardo was asked about the Gibraltar FCO staffing level question, David Lidington the Europe Minister was also question on the same matter by the FAC. He appeared before the committee together with other senior FCO officials in front of a public sitting and gave oral evidence and asked a variety of questions relating to Gibraltar, one set of questions concerned the FCO staff numbers that solely work on Gibraltar issues.
Mr. Rory Stewart a member of the Committee posed the following questions:
How many people in the Foreign Office work solely on Gibraltar issues?
Only 4 Permanent FCO Staff Last Year Now its 20?
Louise de Sousa FCO replied: "We have four people permanently in the team at the moment, but we also have officials throughout the Europe directorate, and more widely as necessary, who contribute to the development and implementation of Gibraltar policy".
Mr. Lidington further explained to the FAC that in addition there would be people in the legal advisers branch, who are experts on Gibraltar. He also mentioned the Embassy in Madrid, from the Ambassador down, who he said also have people who spend a considerable amount of time on Gibraltar. It's hard to believe that latter one from Mr. Lidington, particularly if you read or follow some of Simon Manley's (UK Madrid Ambassador's) tweets.
Tremendous Increases in FCO Gib Staffing Levels - Unimaginable to Believe?
There appears to have been tremendous increases in the amount of FCO staff both at the Convent here in Gibraltar and in HQ in London. From 4 to 20 people in a short period of time! One cannot imagine, the FCO Gibraltar or London has anywhere near 20 staff in total, who are hard at it every day, preparing, analysing and somewhere in the background implementing Gibraltar related policies. Not Imaginable at all!
In fact, it's unimaginable to believe there are so many people at present trying to sort out the Rocks diplomatic woes, simple, because it's not happening.
Certainly if the 20 strong Gibraltar desk staff figures is correct they would performance wise, be giving nearly zero value for money. And probable need to consider a new direction in diplomatic life!
11-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Following last week 's general election and the strengthening of the Scottish position - WHERE WILL NUCLEAR THE SUBS GO TO?
May 11, 2015 | By Joe Garcia
Panoramic View
When Obama was elected as US President, a Washington-based foreign affairs journal asked journalists in countries across the world to write an assessment about it, and the likely effect on relations, in what they called 'The Worlds Vote.
The opening paragraph in my contribution read as follows: "To explain what the election means to people here, let me note that earlier this year I was standing on top of the 1,396-foot Rock of Gibraltar watching a U.S. nuclear- powered submarine sail into this British strategic outpost. American submariners like visiting this friendly, English- speaking territory, and indigenous Gibraltarians are happy to host them. But just a stone's throw into the Spanish hinterland, such U.S. visits are derided."
With the changing scene in Scotland, the Commander British Forces Commodore Ian McGhie, who hails from Sturgeon country and is himself a career submariner, will have felt the strength of the Scottish National Party at last week's general election and the renewed threat that may pose to the submarine base up in the Clyde, known as Faslane in naval circles, and where he served as Captain Faslane Flotilla, being responsible for all UK submarines, before taking on the Gibraltar job just under a year ago.
It is one thing for Gibraltar to be a Z berth, and to welcome passers-by and even longer-stayers like Tireless, and something else to be converted into a much larger permanent operational base for all British nuclear submarines.
Michael Fallon, who has been reappointed Defence Secretary, confirmed last year that two Trafalgar Class submarines will have moved from Devonport to Scotland by 2020, making the Clyde naval base the home to all of the UK's submarines.
If Gibraltar employs 1,000 staff in its base, the staff at the Clyde exceeds 7,000. Not only that but the Clyde is the home to four Vanguard-class submarines armed with Trident ballistic missiles, able to deliver thermonuclear war-heads. One of the submarines is always on patrol - and each are armed with a maximum of eight mssiles and 40 warheads. The submarines and the warheads are kept miles apart in the Clyde area for safety reasons.
All this shows to what extent UK defence and Scotland continue to be deeply interwoven and how important it is for the MOD to retain the UK nuclear deterrent in the Clyde. So that when the MOD are
a move from Scotland, their reply is that the retention of Clyde is the preferred option.
This does not mean that places like Gibraltar, and others within the UK itself, have not been considered as alternatives in the wake of the Scottish threat to rid itself of its nuclear presence.
The spectre of such a development becoming real has regained renewed consideration with the SNP dramatically strengthening its negotiating position following their landslide win in last week's general election.
Not only that but the prospect of an independent S cot- land is again being talked about.
That may be another story, though not entirely unrelated to the nuclear situation. The question is this: If the nuclear deterrent has to be removed from the Clyde in the wake of the strengthening of the Scottish position in last week's general election, where will the nuclear submarines go to?
Does anyone know the answer?
11-05-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Spanish Guardia Civil boards local boat in British waters
May 11, 2015
The Gibraltar Government has been informed that the Spanish Guardia Civil boarded a local fishing boat with two persons on board inside British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) early this afternoon.
The Royal Gibraltar Police was alerted to the incident by the local people on board the boat. An RGP officer sustained slight injuries when he boarded the local boat.
The Government considers that it is 'totally unacceptable for the Guardia Civil to operate in waters which are not Spanish and over which they have no jurisdiction. It is even worse that they should board a vessel.'
The Government will be raising the matter with the United Kingdom 'and would like to thank the Royal Gibraltar Police officers involved who went about their duty of upholding the law of Gibraltar in an exemplary manner.'
PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR11.05.2015
