– December 1, 2006: Gibraltar’s voters support a new
constitution, modernising ties between the Rock and London and allowing
greater local autonomy.
– December 16, 2006: Passenger flights between Gibraltar and
Spain recommence, ending an aerial “cold war” dating from a visit
to the outcrop by the Queen in 1954.
– July 21, 2009: Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos becomes
the first Spanish minister to set foot in Gibraltar since it was captured by
English troops in 1704.
– February 1, 2012: Spain’s new conservative government, led by
Mariano Rajoy, calls on the British authorities to agree to talks on
Gibraltar’s sovereignty.
– May 16, 2012: Spain’s Queen Sofia cancels a planned trip to
London to attend the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebration lunch due to
tensions with Britain over Gibraltar.
– May 24, 2012: Spain warns that it will continue to defend its
fishermen in the contested waters around Gibraltar following a clash between
police boats from the two sides over fishing rights in the area.
– August 17, 2012: Spain makes a formal complaint to Britain in
the dispute over fishing off Gibraltar.
– November 15, 2012: Britain summons the Spanish ambassador to
London to complain about “serious incursions” in the waters off
Gibraltar.
– August 6, 2013: Spain defends its “irrevocable” right
to carry out checks at its border with Gibraltar.
– August 7, 2013: Prime Minister David Cameron warns Rajoy that
escalating the tit-for-tat dispute risks damaging relations between their
countries.
– August 9, 2013: Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, says
Spain “will defend its interests”.
– August 12, 2013: HMS Westminster sets sail for Gibraltar
Edited for Telegraph.co.uk by Barney
Henderson
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