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| {{otheruses4|the UK overseas territory|other uses of the name|Gibraltar (disambiguation)}} | |||
| {{Infobox Country or territory | |||
| |native_name = Gibraltar | |||
| |common_name = Gibraltar | |||
| |image_flag = Flag of Gibraltar.svg | |||
| |image_coat = Coa Gibraltar.svg | |||
| |image_map = LocationGibraltar.png | |||
| |national_motto = ''Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti''{{nbsp|2}}<small>(])<br/>"Conquered By No Enemy"</small> | |||
| |national_anthem = ] | |||
| |official_languages = ] | |||
| |capital = Gibraltar | |||
| |latd=36 |latm=8 |latNS=N |longd=5 |longm=21 |longEW=W | |||
| |largest_city = Gibraltar | |||
| |government_type = ] | |||
| |leader_title1 = ] | |||
| |leader_title2 = ] | |||
| |leader_title3 = ] | |||
| |leader_name1 = ] | |||
| |leader_name2 = {{nowrap|]}} | |||
| |leader_name3 = ] | |||
| |area_rank = 229th | |||
| |area_magnitude = 1 E6 | |||
| |area = 6.5 | |||
| |areami² = 2.5 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |percent_water = 0 | |||
| |population_estimate = 27,921 | |||
| |population_estimate_rank = 220th | |||
| |population_estimate_year = Jul 2005 | |||
| |population_census = | |||
| |population_census_year = | |||
| |population_density = 4,290 | |||
| |population_densitymi² = 11,154 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |population_density_rank = 5th | |||
| |GDP_PPP = $769 million | |||
| |GDP_PPP_rank = 197th | |||
| |GDP_PPP_year = 2000 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $27,900 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = n/a | |||
| |sovereignty_type = Event | |||
| |sovereignty_note = Date | |||
| |established_event1 = Captured | |||
| |established_event2 = Ceded | |||
| |established_event3 = ] | |||
| |established_event4 = Constitution Day | |||
| |established_date1 = ] | |||
| |established_date2 = ] (]) | |||
| |established_date3 = ] | |||
| |established_date4 = ] | |||
| |HDI = n/a | |||
| |HDI_rank = n/a | |||
| |HDI_year = n/a | |||
| |HDI_category = n/a | |||
| |currency = ] <!--NB not the Gibraltar Pound; read a note!--> | |||
| |currency_code = GBP | |||
| |country_code = ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| |time_zone = ] | |||
| |utc_offset = +1 | |||
| |time_zone_DST = ] | |||
| |utc_offset_DST = +2 | |||
| |cctld = ] | |||
| |calling_code = 350<sup>1<sup> | |||
| |footnotes = <sup>1</sup>Before ] ], 9567 from Spain. | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Gibraltar''' is a ] located near the southernmost tip of the ] overlooking the ]. The territory shares a land border with ] to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the ] and is the site of a British naval base. It is probably most famous for the geological formation the ''']'''. | |||
| The name of the territory is derived from the original ] name ''Jabal Ţāriq'' (جبل طارق), meaning "mountain of Tariq", or from ''Gibr al-Ţāriq'', meaning "rock of Tariq"). It refers to the ] ] general ], who led the initial incursion ] in ]. Earlier, it was known as ''Mons Calpe'', one of the ]. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as "Gib" or "the Rock". | |||
| The ] is a major issue of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. ] requests the return of sovereignty, ceded by Spain in perpetuity in 1713. In a 2002 referendum, 88% of Gibraltarians voted on the question ''"Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?"''. 99% voted "No".<ref></ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ] of Gibraltar.]] | |||
| {{main|History of Gibraltar}} | |||
| Human settlement in Gibraltar can be traced back to the ]ns around ], although there is earlier evidence of habitation by the ]s, an extinct species of the ] genus. Semi-permanent settlements were later established by the ] and ]. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar came briefly under the control of the ], and would later form part of the Visigothic Kingdom of ] until its collapse due to the ] in 711 AD. At that time, Gibraltar was named as one of the ], after the legend of the creation of the ]. | |||
| On ], ], the ] general ] led a Berber-dominated army across the Strait from ]. He first attempted to land at ] but failed. Subsequently, he landed undetected at the southern point of the Rock from present-day ] in his quest for Spain. Little was built during the first four centuries of ] control. | |||
| The first permanent settlement was built by the ] Sultan ], who ordered the construction of a fortification on the Rock, the remains of which are still present. Gibraltar would later become part of the Taifa Kingdom of Granada until 1309, when it would be briefly occupied by Castilian troops. In 1333, it was conquered by the ] who had invaded Muslim Spain. The Marinids ceded Gibraltar to the ] in 1374. Finally, it was ] definitively by the ] in 1462, ending 750 years of Moorish control. | |||
| In the initial years under Medina Sidonia, Gibraltar was granted sovereignty as a home to a population of exiled ]. ], a Jewish ] from ] who had led the conquest of Gibraltar, led a group of 4,350 Jews from Córdoba and ] to establish themselves in the town. A community was built and a garrison established to defend the peninsula. However, this lasted only three years. In 1476, the Duke of Medina Sidonia realigned with the Spanish Crown; the ] were then forced back to Córdoba and the ]. Gibraltar passed under the hands of the Spanish Crown, which had been established in 1479, in 1501. One year later, the ] Ferdinand and Isabella granted Gibraltar a coat of arms. | |||
| ], 25 April ].]] | |||
| The naval Battle of Gibraltar took place on ], ] during the ] when a Dutch fleet surprised and engaged a Spanish fleet anchored at the Bay of Gibraltar. During the four-hour action, the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed. | |||
| During the ], British and Dutch troops, allies of ], the Austrian pretender to the Spanish Crown, formed a confederate fleet and attacked various towns on the southern coast of Spain. On ] ], after six hours of bombardment starting at 5 a.m., the confederate fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir George Rooke, captured the town of Gibraltar in the name of the Archduke Charles. were agreed upon, after which much of the population chose to leave Gibraltar. Many others stayed. | |||
| Franco-Spanish troops failed to retake the town, and British sovereignty over Gibraltar was subsequently recognised by the 1713 ], which ended the war. Spain ceded Gibraltar and ] to the United Kingdom, which has retained sovereignty over the former ever since, despite all attempts by Spain to recapture it. | |||
| Gibraltar subsequently became an important naval base for the ] and played an important part in the ]. Its strategic value increased with the opening of the ], as it controlled the important sea route between the UK and its colonies in ] and ]. During ], the civilian residents of Gibraltar were evacuated, and the Rock was turned into a fortress. An ] was built over the civilian racecourse. Guns on Gibraltar controlled the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, but plans by ] to capture the Rock, codenamed ], were frustrated by Spain's reluctance to allow the ] onto Spanish soil. Germany's Admiral ], head of the ], also helped by filing a pointedly negative assessment of the options. Canaris was a leader of the German high command resistance to Hitler, and it is thought that he frustrated the attack to limit Germany's aggression. | |||
| In the ], Spain, then under the dictatorship of ], renewed its claim to sovereignty over Gibraltar, sparked in part by the visit of ] in ] to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Rock's capture. For the next thirty years, Spain restricted movement between Gibraltar and Spain. A referendum was held on ], ], in which Gibraltar's voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish sovereignty, or remain under British sovereignty, with institutions of self-government. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of continuance of British sovereignty, with 12,138 to 44 voting to reject Spanish sovereignty. In response, Spain completely closed the border with Gibraltar and severed all communication links. | |||
| In ], it was announced that ] and ] would fly to Gibraltar to board the ] as part of their ]. In response, the Spanish King, ] refused to attend their wedding in ]. | |||
| In ], ] shot and killed three unarmed members of the ] involved in planning an attack on the British Army band. | |||
| ] | |||
| The border with Spain was partially reopened in ], and fully reopened in ] after Spain's accession into the ]. Joint talks on the future of the Rock held between Spain and the United Kingdom have occurred since the late ], with various proposals for joint sovereignty discussed. However, another referendum organised in Gibraltar rejected the idea of joint sovereignty by 17,900 (98.97%) votes to 187 (1.03%). The British Government restated that, in accordance with the preamble of the constitution of Gibraltar, the "UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes." The question of Gibraltar continues to affect Anglo-Spanish relations. | |||
| In September ], representatives of the ], Gibraltar and ] concluded in Cordoba, Spain, a landmark agreement on a range of cross-cutting issues affecting the Rock and the campo Gibraltar removing many of the restrictions imposed by ].<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Politics== | |||
| ], Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton KBE.]] | |||
| {{main|Politics of Gibraltar}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series--> | |||
| As an overseas territory of the UK, the head of state is ], who is represented by the ]. The UK retains responsibility for ], ], internal security, and financial stability. The Governor is not involved in the day-to-day administration of Gibraltar, and his role is largely as a ceremonial head of state. The Governor officially appoints the Chief Minister and government ministers after an election. He is responsible for matters of defence, security, and the ]. A new governor, ], replaced ] in September 2006. . On 17 July 2006, Sir Francis left on HMS Monmouth leaving the symbolic keys of the fortress of Gibraltar with the Deputy Governor. | |||
| The Government of Gibraltar is elected for a term of four years. The ] ] consists of fifteen elected members (eight Government members, seven opposition members) and two ex-officio members appointed by the Governor: the Financial Development Secretary and the Attorney-General. The speaker is nominated by the Government. | |||
| The head of Government is the ], currently ]. There are three political parties currently represented in the House of Assembly: the ], the ], and the ]. | |||
| ] and the ] have been formed since the 2003 election. The ] and ], having failed to achieve any popular support, ceased operating in ]. | |||
| Gibraltar is a part of the ], having joined under the British Treaty of Accession (]), with exemption from some areas such as the ] and ]. | |||
| After a to exercise the right to vote in European Elections, from ], the people of Gibraltar participated in elections for the ] as part of the ] constituency. | |||
| As a result of the continued Spanish claim, the issue of ] features strongly in Gibraltar politics. All local political parties are opposed to any transfer of sovereignty to Spain, instead supporting ] for the Rock. This policy is supported by the main UK opposition parties. In view of the UK Government's repeated commitment to respect the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, as laid out in the Constitution, the proposal for joint sovereignty is now considered dead. | |||
| In March ], ] that a new Gibraltar constitution had been agreed upon and would be published prior to a referendum on its acceptance in Gibraltar that year. In July, in a statement to the UK Parliament, ], the Minister for Europe, confirmed that the new Constitution confirms the right of self-determination of the Gibraltarian people. | |||
| On 30 November 2006, the ] was held. The turnout was 60.4% of eligible voters of which 60.24% voted to approve the constitution and 37.75% against. The remainder returned blank votes. The acceptance was welcomed by the Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, as a step forward for Gibraltar's political development. | |||
| ==Geography== | |||
| ] | |||
| The territory covers 2.53 ]s (6.543 km²). It shares a three-quarter of a mile (1.2 km) land border with ] and has 7½ miles (12 km) of shoreline. There are two coasts (''sides'') of Gibraltar – the ], which contains the settlements of ] and ], and the ], where the vast majority of the population lives. | |||
| ]).]] | |||
| The climate is ] with mild winters and warm summers. There are two main prevailing winds, an easterly one known as the "]" coming from the sahara in Africa which brings humid weather and warmer sea and the other as "poniente" which is westerly and brings fresher air in and colder sea. Its terrain consists of the 1,396 ] (426 ]) high ] and the narrow coastal lowland surrounding it. | |||
| It has negligible natural resources and limited natural freshwater resources, until recently using large concrete or natural rock water catchments to collect rain water. It now has a ] plant using ], built into the Rock itself.<ref>http://www.aquagib.gi/gibraltar_water_supply.html</ref> | |||
| Gibraltar is one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with approximately 11,154 people per square mile (4,290/km²). The growing demand for space is being increasingly met by ], which comprises approximately one tenth of the territory's total area. | |||
| ] | |||
| ].]] | |||
| The Rock itself is made of ] and is 1,396 feet (426 m) high. It contains many miles of tunnelled roads, most of which are operated by the military and hence closed to the public. | |||
| Most of its upper area is covered by a ], which is home to around 250 ]s, the only wild ]s found in Europe. Recent genetic studies and historical documents point to their presence on the Rock before its capture by the British. A superstition analogous to that of the ]s at the ] states that if the monkeys ever leave, so will the British. | |||
| ==Subdivisions== | |||
| ] | |||
| Gibraltar has no administrative divisions. It is, however, divided into seven Major Residential Areas, which are further divided into Enumeration Areas, used for statistical purposes. The Major Residential Areas are listed below, with population figures from the Census of 2001: | |||
| {| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| |- style="background:#f0f0f0;" | |||
| ! !! Residential area !! Population !! % of total</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 1. || East Side ||align="right"| 429 ||align="right"| 1.54%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 2. || North District ||align="right"| 4,116 ||align="right"| 14.97%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 3. || Reclamation Areas ||align="right"| 9,599 ||align="right"| 34.91%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 4. || Sandpits Area ||align="right"| 2,207 ||align="right"| 8.03%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 5. || South District ||align="right"| 4,257 ||align="right"| 15.48%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 6. || Town Area ||align="right"| 3,588 ||align="right"| 13.05%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| 7. || Upper Town ||align="right"| 2,805 ||align="right"| 10.20%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| || ''Remainder'' ||align="right"| 494 ||align="right"| 1.82%</tr> | |||
| |align="right"| || '''Gibraltar''' ||align="right"| '''27,495''' ||align="right"| 100% | |||
| |} | |||
| ==Economy== | |||
| {{main|Economy of Gibraltar}} | |||
| ].]] | |||
| The British military traditionally dominated the economy of Gibraltar, with the naval dockyard providing the bulk of economic activity. This has however diminished in the last twenty years, and it is estimated to account for only 7% of the local economy, compared to over 60% in ]. | |||
| Today, Gibraltar has an extensive service-based economy, dominated by ] and ]. Financial services and persons involved in the industry are regulated by the , which operates in a similar manner to the United Kingdom . In ''Investment International'' magazine's 2005 Offshore Finance Centre Awards, readers voted Gibraltar the "Best International Finance Centre". | |||
| A number of British and international banks have operations based in Gibraltar. Recently a number of large bookmakers and online gaming operators have opened offices to benefit from operating in a well regulated jurisdiction with a favourable tax regime. | |||
| Tourism is also a significant industry. Gibraltar is a popular stop for cruise ships and attracts day visitors from resorts in Spain. The Rock is a popular tourist attraction, particularly among British tourists and residents in the southern coast of Spain. It is also a popular shopping destination, and all goods and services are ]-free. Many of the large British high street chains have branches in Gibraltar, including ], ], ], ], ], ] and the supermarket ]. | |||
| Other areas of activity are services related to shipping, like bunkering, and ship repair and construction. The economy is considered to be strong and diversified.<ref>http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/latest_news/topical_speeches/economy_speech_2005.htm</ref> | |||
| Figures from the ] state that Gibraltar has a ] of over £432 million ($769 million) with a per capita figure of £15,700 ($28,000). The main export markets in 2004 were ] (19.4%), Spain (14.1%), ] (12.1%), ] (11.7%), ] (10.1%), the ] (9.1%), and ] (6.8%). | |||
| The unit of currency in use is the ] with notes issued by the Government of Gibraltar although there is an ISO code of ] for the ]. | |||
| ==Demographics== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| {{main|Demographics of Gibraltar}} | |||
| The population of Gibraltar was 27,884 (2005) and has been fairly constant | |||
| around that number. | |||
| Gibraltarians are often described as British or Spanish, but they are a distinctive racial and cultural fusion of the many European immigrants who came to the Rock over three hundred years. They are the descendants of economic migrants that came to Gibraltar after the majority of the Spanish population left in 1704; by 1753, 185 Spaniards remained.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ], ], and ] people formed the majority of this new population. Other groups include Minorcans (forced to leave their homes when ] was returned to Spain in 1802), Sardinians, Sicilians and other Italians, French, Germans, and the British. Immigration from Spain and intermarriage with Spaniards from the surrounding Spanish towns was a constant feature of Gibraltar's history until General Francisco Franco decided to close the border with Gibraltar, cutting off many Gibraltarians from their relatives on the Spanish side of the frontier. The Spanish socialist government reopened the land frontier, but other restrictions remain in place. | |||
| Gibraltar's main religion is Christianity, with the majority of Gibraltarians belonging to the ]. Christian religious minorities include the Pentecostals, ], ], the ], ], a ward of ], and ]. There are also a number of ] Indians, a Moroccan ] population, members of the ]<ref></ref> and a long-established ] community. | |||
| ==Language== | |||
| The official language is ], which is used for government and business purposes. Most Gibraltarians use ] (pronounced "Yanito") as their ] language, a ] of ]n Spanish strongly influenced by English that also incorporates some words native to neither. Arabic is also spoken by the Moroccan community. | |||
| ==Culture== | |||
| {{main|Culture of Gibraltar}} | |||
| <!--Unsourced image removed: ]--> | |||
| ] | |||
| The culture of Gibraltar reflects Gibraltarians' diverse origins. While there are ]n and British influences, the ethnic origins of most Gibraltarians are not confined to British or Andalusian ethnicities. Most ethnicities include Genoese, Maltese, Portuguese, and Germans. A handful of other Gibraltar residents are Jewish of ]c origin, ]n, or Hindu. | |||
| British influence remains strong. <!--Remove/rephrase due to "Language" section above:-->Although Gibraltarians often speak to each other in an English-influenced Andalusian dialect called Yanito or Llanito, English is the language of government, commerce, education, and the media. Gibraltarians going on to higher education attend university in the UK. Patients requiring medical treatment not available on the Rock receive it there as private patients paid for by the Gibraltar Government. | |||
| There exists a small but interesting amount of literary writings by native Gibraltarians. The first prominent work of fiction was probably Héctor Licudi's 1929 novel ''Barbarita'', written in Spanish. It is a largely autobiographical account of the adventures and misadventures of a young Gibraltarian man. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, several noteworthy anthologies of poetry were published by Leopoldo Sanguinetti, Albert Joseph Patron, and Alberto Pizzarello. The 1960s were largely dominated by the theatrical works of Elio Cruz and his two highly acclaimed Spanish plays ''La Lola se va pá Londre'' and ''Connie con cama camera en el comedor''. In the 1990s, the Gibraltarian ] Mario Arroyo published ''Profiles'' (1994), a series of bilingual meditations on love, loneliness and death. Of late there have been interesting works by the essayist Mary Chiappe such as her volume of essays ''Cabbages and Kings'' (2006) and by the UK-educated academic M. G. Sanchez, author of the hard-hitting novel ''Rock Black 0-10: A Gibraltar fiction'' (2006). | |||
| ===National Day=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Gibraltar's National Day commemmorates the 1967 referendum when the people of Gibraltar voted to reject Spanish annexation by a massive majority. It is celebrated annually on September 10. The day is a public holiday, during which most Gibraltarians dress in the national colours of red and white and, among other events, attend a rally. The rally culminates with the release of thirty thousand red and white balloons representing the people of Gibraltar. | |||
| The ] MP ] described the event as ''"a magnificent celebration of the Gibraltarian people, showing not only their pride in being British, but also their love of their homeland — the rock itself''"<ref>Hansard 27 Oct 2004 : Column 1436 </ref> | |||
| ===Tercentenary=== | |||
| ] | |||
| In ], Gibraltar celebrated the tercentenary (the 300th anniversary) of its capture by British forces. In recognition of and with thanks for its long association with Gibraltar, the ] was given the ]. Another event saw a gesture of solidarity, when nearly the entire population, dressed in red, white and blue, linked hands to form a human chain encircling the Rock. | |||
| {{clearleft}} | |||
| ==Transport== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Transport in Gibraltar}} | |||
| Within Gibraltar, the main form of transport is the car. Motorbikes are popular and there is a good modern bus service. Unlike in other British territories, traffic drives on the right, as the territory shares a land border with Spain. | |||
| There is a ] which runs from ground level to the top of the rock, with an intermediate station at the apes' den. | |||
| Restrictions on transport introduced by the Spanish dictator ] closed the land frontier in 1969 and prohibited any air or ] connections. In 1982, the land border was reopened. As the result of an agreement signed in ] on ] ] between Gibraltar, the United Kingdom and Spain,<ref></ref> the Spanish government agreed to relax the ] at the frontier that have plagued locals for decades; in return, Britain will pay increased pensions to workers who lost their jobs when Franco closed the border. Restrictions on telephones were removed in ] and restrictions on movements at the airport were removed On 16 December ]<ref></ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| Gibraltar maintains regular flight connections to ] and ]. Flights to ] were cancelled after insufficient demand to sustain the service. A new airline, ] promises to operate flights to the UK and Ireland from March ], but has experienced difficulty obtaining a CAA operators licence.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} | |||
| The Spanish national carrier ] operates a daily service to Madrid. | |||
| Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border with Spain have been randomly subjected to long delays and searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain has closed the border during disputes or incidents involving the Gibraltar authorities, such as the ] and when fishermen from the Spanish fishing vessel ''Pirana'' were arrested for illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters.<ref>http://www.gibnet.com/fish/pirana.htm</ref> | |||
| ==Communications== | |||
| {{main|Communications in Gibraltar}} | |||
| Gibraltar has a digital telephone exchange supported by a fibre optic and copper infrastructure. The telephone operator also operate a ] network. | |||
| International subscriber dialling is provided, and Gibraltar was allocated the access code 350 by the ]. This works from all countries with IDD, including Spain, which accepts it since ] ] due to the ]. | |||
| Dial-up, ADSL, high-speed Internet lines are available, as are some ] hotspots in hotels. | |||
| operate a television and radio station on UHF, VHF and medium-wave. The radio service is also Internet-streamed. | |||
| There are also a number of newspapers in Gibraltar. The largest and most frequent is The Gibraltar Chronicle, the second oldest daily newspaper in the world (first published 1801) with daily editions six days a week. Panorama who publish on week days, and the weekly newspapers - Vox, 7 Days, The New People, and Gibsport. | |||
| ==Military== | |||
| ] | |||
| Gibraltar's defence is the responsibility of the tri-service ]. The army garrison is provided by the ], originally a part-time reserve force which was placed on the permanent establishment of the ] in ]. The regiment includes full-time and part-time soldiers recruited from Gibraltar, as well as ] regulars posted from other regiments. | |||
| The ] maintains a ] at the Rock. The squadron is responsible for the security and integrity of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW). The shore establishment at Gibraltar is called ''Rooke'' after ] who captured the Rock for ] (pretender to the Spanish throne) in 1704. Gibraltar's strategic position provides an important facility for the ] and Britain's allies. Ships from the ] do not call at Gibraltar. | |||
| British and US nuclear submarines frequently visit the ''Z berths'' at Gibraltar . A Z berth provides the facility for nuclear submarines to visit for operational or recreational purposes, and for non-nuclear repairs. | |||
| The ] station at Gibraltar forms part of Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar. Although aircraft are no longer permanently stationed at ], a variety of RAF aircraft make regular visits to the Rock and the airfield also houses a section from the . | |||
| The Rock is believed to be a ] listening post for ] throughout North Africa. Its strategic position also keeps it a key ] and ] base for ] coverage.<ref></ref> | |||
| During the ], an Argentine plan to attack British shipping in the harbour using frogmen (]) was foiled.<ref></ref> The naval base also played a part in supporting the task force sent by Britain to recover the Falklands. | |||
| In January 2007, the Ministry of Defence announced that services to the base would be provided by the private company SERCO, resulting in industrial action from the trade unions involved. | |||
| ===''Death on the Rock''=== | |||
| In ], as part of ], the British ] killed three unarmed members of the ] (PIRA), ], ] and ]. They were in Gibraltar on a PIRA operation to plant a car bomb. A car hired by the three was subsequently discovered in Spain with 64 ] of ] explosive. The incident became the subject of a contentious ] documentary, '']''. | |||
| An inquest was held which ruled the SAS's action to be lawful. The families of the deceased, however, took the case to the ] and in 1995 it held by ten votes to nine that the British government had violated Article 2 of the ]. It also ruled, however, that the three killed had been engaged in an act of ], consequently dismissing unanimously the applicants' claims for damages, for costs and expenses incurred by the original inquest, and for any remaining claims for just satisfaction. | |||
| ==Gibraltar UEFA membership== | |||
| {{main|Gibraltar Football Association}} | |||
| The ] (GFA) applied to ] for independent membership of the football ], which would enable it to play as a national team in international matches in Europe and around the world (as participation in FIFA flows from UEFA membership). | |||
| The Spanish football federation has objected strongly to Gibraltar's membership, leading UEFA to deny entry to the GFA. However, following an appeal to the ] (CAS), UEFA have now been ordered to overturn their decision and admit Gibraltar. The Spanish government has threatened to withdraw Spanish teams, including their national side, from UEFA, although under current rules this would preclude Spanish involvement in all international football.<ref name="GNO">{{cite news |url=http://www.gibraltarnewsonline.com/2006/08/25/gfa-edges-closer-to-uefa-membership-says-spanish-press/ |title=GFA edges closer to UEFA membership, says Spanish press |publisher=Gibraltarnewsonline.com}}</ref> | |||
| The GFA was founded in ], making it one of the oldest associations in the world. It complies with all aspects of ] membership; the Spanish objection is based on its facilities being built on "disputed land".<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1876470,00.html |title=Ruling paves way for Gibraltar to join Uefa |date=] ] |publisher=Guardian |accessdate=2006-12-14}}</ref> | |||
| On ] ], UEFA announced that Gibraltar was "a provisional member";<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6215286.stm |title=Gibraltar close in on Uefa place |publisher=BBC}}</ref> on ] ], however, the UEFA Congress voted on and overwhelmingly rejected Gibraltar's application for full membership by forty-five votes to three, with four abstentions. Spanish FA president Angel Maria Villar Llona told delegates: "This is a political problem".<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2007-01-27T003231Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-285193-1.xml |title=UEFA admits Montenegro, rejects Gibraltar |publisher=Reuters |date=] ]}}</ref> | |||
| ==Gibraltar in popular culture== | |||
| * The film '']'' was filmed on location in Gibraltar in ]. It is a dramatisation of the period during the Second World War when ] served as a mine and disposal officer in Gibraltar while frogmen of the ]'s Tenth Light Flotilla were sinking vital shipping. | |||
| * The ] ] film '']'' begins with a training exercise to test Gibraltar's defences. Bond parachutes with other "00" agents onto the Rock, only to see one assassinated. His pursuit of the assassin culminates in a fight on board a moving ] laden with explosives. | |||
| * ]'s novel '']'' (1965), chronicling the troubled love-life of the British soldier Ricahard Ennis, is set in Gibraltar. | |||
| * Gibraltar is where Beatle ] married ], earning it a mention in the Beatles' hit ''The Ballad of John and Yoko'' | |||
| * ] and the Bad Seeds album ] features the song ''Rock of Gibraltar'' | |||
| * Satirical novel "]" by ] (1887) describes an almost successful attack of the monkeys on the fortress. | |||
| * '']'', a Jules Verne's 1889 short story, also mentions Gibraltar as the last territory of a British Empire that has lost the British Isles themselves. | |||
| * ] ''Raffles' Crime in Gibraltar'' by ], a ] story set in Gibraltar in 1937 (] title: ''They Hang Them in Gibraltar''). | |||
| * ''Scruffy'' by ] is set on Gibraltar during World War II. It follows the steady decline in the size of the Macaque colony and the possible fulfilment of the superstition that Gibraltar will fall if it disappears. | |||
| * The Rock's image as a symbol of strength and fortification led to its use as a corporate logo by the ] Company. | |||
| * In the ] universe of the ] megaseries (specifically ] and ]), Gibraltar is the site of one of the major ] bases. | |||
| * In the 2006 ] game '']'', a futuristic Gibraltar is featured as one of the playable maps. | |||
| * In the remix to ]'s "]" song, rapper ] uses the line "How could you falter, when you're the rock of Gibraltar?" | |||
| * As ] is a native Gibraltarian, references to Gibraltar appear throughout ]'s '']'' (1921). A sculpture of Molly Bloom as imagined by local artist ] is on display in the ]. | |||
| ==Notable people from Gibraltar== | |||
| * ], nuclear scientist. | |||
| * ], fashion designer. | |||
| * ], former Roman Catholic archbishop of Southwark, London, UK. | |||
| * ], singer, songwriter and producer. | |||
| * ], translator and poet. | |||
| * ], ] goalkeeper during the 1950s. | |||
| * ], actor, mainly known for his appearances in '']''. | |||
| ===Music=== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-small"><references/></div> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{Gibraltar topics}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Gibraltar}} | |||
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| == Locale == | |||
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| {{Dependent and other territories of Europe}} | |||
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| {{Territories of the British Empire}} | |||
| {{Territorial disputes involving the United Kingdom}} | |||
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Revision as of 14:25, 9 March 2007
worst place in the history of earth