Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, serving as a gateway between Europe and Africa. It has a total area of 6.7 km², making it one of the smallest territories in the world. With a population of approximately 34,000, Gibraltar is a densely populated region with a culturally diverse community comprising British, Spanish, and North African individuals. It is known for its strategic location and imposing Rock of Gibraltar, a limestone massif rising 426 meters above sea level. Gibraltar's unique position has played an important role in its history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neanderthal era. The British seized control of the territory in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession and has occupied it ever since, despite numerous attempts by Spain to reclaim the territory. Today, Gibraltar is an important center for tourism, finance, and shipping commerce. It has a vibrant economy and maintains strong cultural ties to its neighboring Spanish cities of Algeciras and La Linea.

Two aphorisms are often stated about Gibraltar: first, that it was a possession that "Spain did not value until she had lost it"; and second, since the day it became a British possession, "Gibraltar has been a thorn in the side of Spain." Except for a few relatively short periods, the Gibraltar issue has adversely affected Anglo-Spanish relations during the almost 275 years of British ownership. To date, negotiations under the aegis of the United Nations have proven unfruitful. Spain demands that complete sovereignty be returned. Great Britain declines to take any such action without the consent of the inhabitants. Despite a referendum in which the Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to retain links with Great Britain, the Special Committee of the U.N. General Assembly continues to strongly support the Spanish claim. What effect Spain's entry into NATO will have remains to be seen. This book examines the historical background and present status of the dispute, making extensive use of documents not previously analyzed in depth. Dr. Levie describes the events leading up to the Treaty of Utrecht, provides a detailed analysis of the treaty itself, and traces the origins of its various interpretations. He discusses how the British, unintentionally or otherwise, have violated its provisions, and how the Spanish have attempted to retaliate. The book concludes with a discussion of how the Gibraltar issue has beeen handled in the U.N. to the present day.

Gibraltar Business Law Handbook - Strategic Information and Basic Laws

Clive Finlayson, a native of the Rock and a trained ornithologist, presents a fascinating account of this region and its resident and transitory bird life. The Strait of Gibraltar is famous as a major point of passage for Palaearctic birds migrating between their European breeding grounds and their winter quarters in Africa. The first chapter of the book describes the area, which broadly defined includes the Coto Donana in the north and the Merja Zerga in the south, and the geographic and climatological characteristics which make it a suitable crossing place. In scope this book goes beyond the strict definition of the Strait and, following Irby's 19th Century work, examines the rich area where Europe meets Africa. The chapters which follow describe in detail the migration patterns of the principal passage species including their origins, destinations and overall numbers, showing how the precise conditions of weather and visibility affect the specific choice of route and timing of the crossing. The breeding and wintering bird communities are then considered and the ornithology of the entire region summarized. Whether or not you have ever witnessed the thousands of raptors, storks and other birds that may make this legendary crossing in a single day, this book will conjure the spirit of this extraordinary place. Delightful illustrations by lan Willis complete an important and entertaining book.

Since 1945 Gibraltar's sovereignty has repeatedly been questioned. A strategic possession overlooking Africa at the mouth of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar is the victim of both history and geography and continues to be the barometer of Anglo-Spanish relations. Arguing that Gibraltar has played a much more proactive role in negotiations than is assumed, the book describes the objectives and actions of the Gibraltarians against the wider map of Anglo-Spanish relations.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1865. With original letters from Sir George Eliott, Admiral Collingwood, and Lord Nelson. Second edition.