BACKGROUND
Gibraltar was captured in 1704, ceded by Spain to Great Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, which stipulates that the Crown of Spain has to be given first option if the Crown of Great Britain ever decides to surrender sovereignty. Spain began trying to recover Gibraltar, besieging the rock several times during the 18th century. However, in recent times Spain has tried to press its case through diplomatic channels by exerting pressure of various kinds on the Gibraltar population. In 1969 Britain gave Gibraltar a new constitution, granting the inhabitants of the rock a large measure of internal self-government. The 1969 Constitution is not recognized by Spain, nor is the Government of Gibraltar, the territory's elected representatives and the people's wishes. For their part the people of Gibraltar fiercely assert their right to self-determination - their right to decide their own future
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Copyright (C) by Gibraltar Government 2005
