UK stern reply to Argentine intention of controlling Falklands’ sea trade

Wednesday, February 17th 2010 - 02:05 UTC

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The Argentine government’s announcement on Tuesday that all cargo navigating between Argentina and Falklands/Malvinas Islands “will require previous authorization” received a quick and energetic response from the British government through its embassy in Buenos Aires.

Argentina is strongly protesting (and taking actions against) the oil exploratory drilling season scheduled to begin next week in the Falklands’ maritime spaces over which Argentina claims sovereignty.

“The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime territories and it knows very well that the exploration of hydrocarbons is a completely legitimate project” said the British embassy spokesperson and press official, Andrés Federman.

Earlier in the afternoon cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez had announced the decree signed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner which limits maritime transit to the Falklands since all vessels which call at Argentine ports and/or navigate Argentine waters en route to the Islands will require prior authorization from the Argentine government.

Further on British embassy spokesperson Federman pointed out that the initiative has to do with “how Argentina applies its laws within its own territories”, the same way “that the Falklands elected authorities applies laws in their own jurisdiction, it’s something that only relates to the government of the Islands”.

The quick and stern British reply surprised Argentine authorities since normally embassy officials consult with London before responding to statements or actions referred to the Falklands.

However since Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s New Year message to the Falklands, when he ratified “no doubts about British sovereignty over the Islands” based on the right to self-determination and again expressed full political and technical support for the legitimate oil exploration in the Islands, the Foreign Office has been more immediate and to the point in its replies.

Categories: Energy & Oil, Politics, Falkland Islands.

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Mat
Oh god, this isn't going to end until we've lobbed some cruise missiles into Buenos Aires, is it? How mental is Argentina (or how desperate) to antagonise a country with the third or fourth largest military spending in the world? Typical Argentine arrogance.
Feb 17th, 2010 - 03:32 am 0
tinc
It's not about cruise missils u idiot, nor about war or violence. Occupation of the islands was a mistake (wtf were the english doing around southamerica?? none of ur buissnes, they should have stayed home!!! that's being a pirate, an overseas thief)
Argentina declaring the war was another mistake. (why that stupid “de facto” dictator being called president declared the war?? maybe coz arg military was a blast of corruption and they had killed over 10000 people with “dangerous ideas” and the only way of staying in the power was declaring a war)
The argentine goverment of 1982 was not elected by the people, was a dictatorship, and people in that country were killed just coz they didn't agree with the military politics... so the world shouldn't be so sure about le legitimacy of the war, argentines didn't wanted it, but they were in legal position to claim soveranity...
Feb 17th, 2010 - 04:37 am 0
Nicholas
Tinc get real, the only idiot here is you. Don't you understand that the che idiots are losing their mind? Their economy is a mess, it's on the list of going default anytime. It's worse than the US and EU'S situation that many argies don't want to believe. This whole Falkland effort (what never belonged to them if you read the unbiased history carefully) is going again to their mind. Why? Answer is simple...Their own shitty government is diverting the people with crazy rhetoric again from the real and serious issues that is going to destroy their nation and give it for free to foreigners (mainly the Brazilians ). History is repeating again and their will be a time that the Brits will have to react again to defend the PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO BELONG TO ARGENTINA BUT WANT TO STAY UNDER BRITISH RULE. If the UK must attack, I'm sure this time, they will have to wipe out Buenos Aires for good.
Feb 17th, 2010 - 06:08 am 0

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