Gibraltar fury as leader hits back at 'bullying' Spanish mayor after British boat boarded

Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, has delivered a stinging rebuke to Algeciras Mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce, after the Spanish politician backed an incursion by a customs vessel into UK waters.

Mr Picardo did not pull his punches in response to remarks by Mr Landaluce after the SVA Aguila 2 strayed into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, boarded a locally registered vessel, and tried to take executive action.

Discussing the situation, Mr Landalice backed the officers involved, claiming the waters in which the incident occurred were Spanish.

However, Mr Picardo, who has leader of the Rock since 2011, disagreed in the strongest possible terms, also criticising Mr Landaluce’s previous remarks, which he said had served as a barrier to cooperation.

Specifically, Mr Picardo said there could be no doubt over Gibraltar’s historical claim on the stretch of water concerned.

He told the Gibraltar Chronicle: “This is not only set out under Gibraltar Law but is also provided for under Public International Law, namely, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“If he wants, I am happy to send Snr Landaluce a copy of the Convention and take him through it.

“I will also happily explain the lack of effect that the reservation filed by Spain has in respect of the application of the Convention.”

Mr Picardo reminded Mr Landaluce that Inocencio Arias, Spain's former Ambassador to the United Nations was on record as admitted that Gibraltar did have territorial waters, regardless of Spain's longstanding denials.

He added: “Snr Landaluce should be reminded of this when he makes points as fallacious as the points he was made today.

“The SVA Aguila 2 vessel entered BGTW and took executive action without notifying any of the Gibraltar authorities.

“This is totally unacceptable and is why I have asked the United Kingdom Government to forcefully raise this with Spain.”

"Statements today in parts of the Spanish media actually quote the SVA officers talking about a sailing boat or ‘velero’, which shows they are making up their version of events.

“The vessel in question is a port tender without a sail.

“That shows that the version of events of the SVA officers is entirely unreliable and Snr Landaluce should have greater regard for the information put into the public domain by Gibraltar and not the untrue version of events being bandied about in Spain.”

Gibraltar, located on the southern tip of the Spanish mainland with its population of roughly 32,000, has been a British overseas territory since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

Describing Mr Landaluce’s “obsession” with the Rock as unhealthy, Mr Picardo said: “I would gently tell Snr Landaluce that his attitude is what has prevented cooperation from flourishing before.

“And if he has not yet learned that the Gibraltarians do not react to bullying and to being told what to do by a Spanish politician, he had better pull his head out of the sand in which he has had it buried for the past 12 years.”