Falklands – a bone of contention between Buenos Aires and London
Friday, June 15th, 2012 4:20:32 by Taimoor Tariq
Thirty years after the war between Argentina and UK over the Falkland Islands, tensions have heightened again between the two capitals as British companies begin oil exploration in the vicinity of the island
On Thursday, British Prime Minister, David Cameron warned Argentine government that Britain will stand ready and willing to defend the Falklands. During a speech commemorating the British victory over Argentina in 1982, Cameron accused Buenos
Aires of aggression and said that there would be “absolutely no negotiation” over the sovereignty of these islands located about 480 km from the coast of Argentina.
“My message to the Argentine government is as follows: UK harbours no aggressive intentions towards you. But do not underestimate our resolve. Threats will not work. Intimidation of our islanders will not succeed because Britain is ready and determined to
resist at any time for inhabitants of Falklands.”
Authorities in the islands say that a referendum will be held in 2013 in Falklands to dispel any possible doubt of the dwellers’ wish to remain a British governed territory.
In recent months, Argentine President, Cristina Kirchner has muscled her speeches on the Las Malvinas archipelago, thus launching a diplomatic offensive to win back the sovereignty of Falklands.
On Thursday at the UN headquarters in New York, she defended her country’s stance on the island.
“How could they be part of the UK while they are separated by 14000 miles?” said Kirchner before the UN Special Committee on decolonisation.
The Argentine President further termed British occupation as “an affront to the world we all dream.”
In support of her decision back in December 2011, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile have prohibited all vessels flying the colours of Falklands to anchor in their ports thus casting their solidarity with the Argentine plight.
The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization includes Falkland Islands on its list of Non-Self-Governing Territories as Falkland Islands has been asserted as one of 16 territories which UN deems too small a population “to survive as viable, fully
independent state.”
Though the Falkland war ended on June 14, 1982 following the withdrawal of Argentine forces, the war left 255 British soldiers and 649 Argentine soldiers, sailors and airmen dead.
Since resumption of diplomatic ties between Argentina and Britain in 1990, no further negotiations on the Islands’ sovereignty have taken place.
Tags: , Argentina, Britain, buenos aires, crisitna kirchner, David Cameron, falkland islands, London, uk, United NationsShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=25924
Posted by Taimoor Tariq
on Jun 15 2012. Filed under Europe.
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Britain, did try to negotiate with Argentina early on at the International Court of Justice at the Hague in 1947, 1948, and 1955.
Argentina, however, refused mediation. Argentina does not recognize the Falkland Islands’ right to self-determination, leaving negotiations without a starting point.