Gibraltar
- Alternate uses at Gibraltar (disambiguation)
The name Gibraltar comes from the Arabic Jabal al Tariq, ﻕﺭﻄ ﻝﺒﺨ which means "Tariq's mountain" (named for Tariq ibn Ziyad). Earlier it was Calpe, one of the Columns of Hercules. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as 'Gib' or 'the Rock'.
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| Motto: Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (Latin: Conquered By No Enemy) | |||||
| Official language | English. (although Spanish is also spoken) | ||||
| Capital | (Gibraltar) | ||||
| Coordinates | 36ÃÂð 07' N, 5ÃÂð 21' W | ||||
| Governor and Commander-in-Chief | Sir Francis Richards | ||||
| Chief Minister | Peter Caruana | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | not ranked (192 if) 6.5 km2 - | ||||
| Population - Total (2003 Estimation>E) - Density | not ranked (190 if) 27,776 4270/km2 | ||||
| Currency | Pound Sterling. (Gibraltar Pound). | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +1 (DST +2) | ||||
| Anthem | Gibraltar Anthem | ||||
| Internet TLD | .GI | ||||
| Calling Code | 350 (except in Spain) | ||||
| Table of contents |
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2 Politics 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Culture 6 Miscellaneous topics 7 External links |
An Anglo-Dutch force led by Sir George Rooke seized the Rock in 1704. The territory was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht as part of the settlement of the War of the Spanish Succession. In that treaty, Spain ceded Great Britain "the full and entire propriety of the town and castle of Gibraltar, together with the port, fortifications, and forts thereunto belonging ... for ever, without any exception or impediment whatsoever."
Nonetheless, the treaty stipulates that no overland trade between Gibraltar and Spain is to take place, except for emergency provisions in the case that Gibraltar is unable to be resupplied by sea. Another condition of the cession is that "no leave shall be given under any pretence whatsoever, either to Jews or Moors, to reside or have their dwellings in the said town of Gibraltar." This restriction was quickly ignored and for many years both
Jews and Arabs have lived peacefully in Gibraltar. In a reversion clause. should The British Crown ever wish relinquish Gibraltar, Spain was promised it will be offered to it first.
In a 1967 referendum, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. More recently, in a second referendum held in November 2002 99% of the voters rejected any proposal to share sovereignty between the UK and Spain. However, the Gibraltarians are seeking a more modern status and relationship with the United Kingdom reflecting the present level of self-government. A new constitution has been submitted for approval by Westminister.History
Main article: History of Gibraltar
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As of 2004, Spain continues its policy of harassing Gibraltar both politically and economically in order to pressure the Gibraltarians into accepting Spanish sovereignty.
Spain describes the people of Gibraltar as the 'present inhabitants' or 'transients', on the grounds that the original Spanish inhabitants were expelled at the time when the British seized Gibraltar. This is in spite of the fact that many can trace their families back hundreds of years.
Spain has a policy of non-recognition of the Government of Gibraltar as a 'competent authority', therefore refusing to recognise Gibraltar's courts, police and government departments, driver's licences and identity cards. It bans ferry and air services between Gibraltar and Spain, and motorists crossing the border are subjected to long delays and searches. Madrid refuses to recognise Gibraltar's international dialling code, 350 thereby restricting the expansion of Gibraltar's telephone numbering plan, as well as not allowing roaming for Gibraltar mobile phones in Spain.
It also tries to prevent Gibraltar from participating in international sporting and cultural events as it wants to create the impression that Gibraltar is a 'pure colony' with no separate identity from the UK. For example, the Gibraltar Football Association has applied to UEFA to become a member, able to participate in the European Championships and the Football World Cup, but this has met with opposition from the Spanish Football Federation.
Gibraltar has no military forces of its own. Its forces are the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force; defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. However, the army garrison is provided by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, originally a part-time reserve force which was placed on the permanent establishment of the British Army in 1990 upon the withdrawal of the British garrison. The regiment includes full-time and part-time soldiers recruited from Gibraltar, as well as British Army regulars posted from other regiments.
(For details on Gibraltar's status in the EU, see Special member state territories and their relations with the EU).
The territory covers 6.5 square kilometres. It shares a 1.2 kilometre land border with Spain and has 12 kilometres of shoreline. Its climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers. Its terrain is a narrow coastal lowland bordering the 426-metre-high Rock of Gibraltar. It has negligible natural resources and limited natural freshwater resources, until recently using large concrete or natural rock water catchments to collect rain water, although it now has a desalination plant. The growing demand for space is being increasingly met by land reclamation, particularly on the west side of the Rock, but lately also on the east.
However, the [Convention on the Law of the Sea] , set a standard of 12 nautical miles for all of its signatories.
Gibraltar's territorial waters currently extend up to 3 nautical miles, but could be extended to 12 if required.
Still, the postitions of Spain and the UK are opposite on this issue:
The Spanish Statement
Since the reduction of the British garrison, the economy has been turned to offshore banking and Tourism. There are more companies registered in Gibraltar than inhabitants. The Spanish government as part of its campaign to reclaim the Rock claims that Gibraltar banks are used in tax evasion and money laundering (An inquiry by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee found this claim to be baseless).
The Spanish government has also accused Gibraltarian motorboats of helping in tobacco smuggling. However, to prevent this happening there is a law against fast launches and it is illegal to bring them into Gibraltar waters.
Gibraltarians enjoy a standard of life higher than their Spanish neighbours of Campo de Gibraltar and much higher than their Moroccan neighbours.
Since the reopening of the frontier in 1985, many Gibraltarians have bought properties across the border, particularly the neighbouring town of La LÃÂÃÂnea de la ConcepciÃÂón, where property prices are much lower, although land reclamation in 1991 has lessened the traditionally chronic housing shortage on the Rock. space remains a problem and other, more affluent Gibraltarians live in Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol, from where they commute into Gibraltar.
The Gibraltar waters are also used by ships transferring crude oil and bunker to oil carriers. The oil often comes from the Spanish CEPSA refinery at Algeciras but prices are lower in Gibraltar because of taxes. The Spanish government falsely claimed Gibraltar was the destination of the Prestige which caused an environmental disaster.
Another issue of contention has been the repair of the nuclear submarine, HMS Tireless. Despite many protests the Gibraltar Government allowed the work to be done after employing its own experts to confirm it was safe. The submarine was in Gibraltar for a year before leaving after the repair was successfully completed without incident.
The Euro is not legal tender, but most shops will take euro notes (The Dollar is also widely accepted).
Gibraltar Pound is just another name for the Pound Sterling. Gibraltar pound notes are issued and legal tender, therefore one Gibraltar pound = 1 English pound
Gibraltar is also home to the only semi-wild monkeys in Europe, the Barbary Apes. Taxonomically they are barbary macaques.
1939 map
Geography
Main article: Geography of GibraltarTerritorial waters
The original Utrecht treaty did not give control of surrounding territorial waters to Gibraltar.
"2. In ratifying the Convention, Spain wishes to make it known that this act cannot be construed as recognition of any rights or status regarding the maritime space of Gibraltar that are not included in article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht of 13 July 1713 concluded between the Crowns of Spain and Great Britain. Furthermore, Spain does not consider that Resolution III of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea is applicable to the colony of Gibraltar, which is subject to a process of decolonization in which only relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly are applicable."
The British Statement
"With regard to point 2 of the declaration made upon ratification of the Convention by the Government of Spain, the Government of the United Kingdom has no doubt about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over Gibraltar, including its territorial waters. The Government of the United Kingdom, as the administering authority of Gibraltar, has extended the United Kingdom's accession to the Convention and ratification of the Agreement to Gibraltar. The Government of the United Kingdom, therefore, rejects as unfounded point 2 of the Spanish declaration.
"
Economy
Main article: Economy of Gibraltar
Culture
Main article: Culture of GibraltarMiscellaneous topics
External links
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