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Gibraltar
I see that the Spanish have again thrown their teddy out of the pram, this time about Geoff Hoon's visit to celebrate the tercentenary of our conquest of Gibraltar.
If you are on holiday in Spain and become involved in a discussion with a local on this subject, try the following, "So, seÃÃâ€*’±or, what is the difference between Gibraltar and Cueta and Melilla?" At this point your casual acquaintance may well become apoplectic and start beating you about the head with the nearest flamenco guitar. Alternatively he may give you some feeble argument about Cueta and Melilla being integral parts of Spain whereas Gibraltar is an overseas territory and not an integral part of the UK. You may wish to respond, "But, seÃÃâ€*’±or, all of these territories have been conquered by force of arms, are not part of the metropolitan countries and are claimed by the country bordering them. I reject your flimsy arguments with contempt."
However, at this point it may be well worthwhile weighing the benefits of winning the argument against the prospect of spending the night in a Spanish jail, followed by rapid deportation.
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