Rajoy uses UN speech to push Spain’s claim to Gibraltar

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took advantage of his scheduled speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations late Wednesday to reaffirm Spain’s claims to Gibraltar, although with less forcefulness than might have been expected given the current circumstances.

Without using the word as such, Rajoy remained his audience that the Rock is the last remaining colony within Europe and reminded Britain that it continues to turn a deaf ear to the calls for decolonization approved by the general Assembly of UN in the 1960s and of the commitments it acquired with Spain within the context of the European Union.

“This anachronism is causing disruption for the citizens of Gibraltar and the neighboring area,” Rajoy said. “Spain reiterates once again its call to Britain to renew bilateral talks and regional cooperation,” he added.

The diplomatic spat between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar flared up again this summer after the government of the British colony sank concrete blocks in waters close to the territory, which Spanish fishermen claimed was aimed at depriving them of their livelihood. In response, Spain tightened security checks for travelers entering and leaving the territory, causing long delays.

Rajoy also took the opportunity the put forward Spain’s case for a revolving seat in the UN Security Council for the period 2015-2016. With a year to go before the vote on the issue is held, Spain faces stiff competition for that seat from New Zealand, which has the backing of a number of small states in the Pacific and Turkey. Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo is due this week to hold a series of bilateral talks in an effort to sway UN members over to Spain’s side.