Argentine protests Falklands oil drilling before the Rio Group and UN
Argentina will be pressing next Monday for support from Latinamerica and the Caribbean, and on Wednesday at United Nations, in its dispute over the oil drilling round about to being in the Falkland Islands.
Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana is participating Monday and Tuesday of the Rio Group that brings together twenty countries from the region and is meeting in Mexico. The agenda includes Haiti’s reconstruction and the regional political balance but Taiana is expected to have the Falklands’ issue added.
Since it was born unpresumptuous in the eighties the Rio Group has been quite successful in defusing regional armed conflicts, mainly in Central American and lately in keeping at bay the ongoing Venezuela and Colombia confrontation.
A strong declaration in support of Argentina’s position calling for sovereignty negotiations on the Falklands dispute with Britain, based on UN resolutions, and condemnation of UK’s unilateral actions in the South Atlantic can be expected.
On Wednesday Taiana has a meeting scheduled with UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon when Argentina will again denounce Britain’s decision to endorse oil exploratory drilling in the Falklands’ maritime jurisdiction.
The Argentine diplomatic blitzkrieg will only escalate the current confrontation with London over the oil exploration round and the development of an oil industry in the Falklands, which Britain openly supports as legitimate, based on the Islanders right to self determination and UK sovereignty over the Islands.
On Wednesday Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner signed a decree establishing that all maritime trade or business with Falklands’ ports and/or crossing of Argentine waters needs a formal authorization from the Argentine government, since the disputed Islands are an integral part of Argentine territory.
Argentina’s main argument against the oil drilling round by “British companies” in Falklands’ waters is that they do not abide by the reiterated UN resolutions.
In response to the Argentine government position and latest decree, Foreign Office Minster Chris Bryant said that UK “have no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and we're clear that the Falkland Islands Government is entitled to develop a hydrocarbons industry within its waters. The Falkland Islands territorial waters are controlled by the Islands' authorities”
However in a conciliatory note Minister Bryant added that it must not be ignored that Argentina and the UK are important partners.
“We have a close and productive relationship on a range of issues: in the G20, on climate change, sustainable development and counter-proliferation. We would like to add South Atlantic issues to that list and will work to develop the relationship further. If that could be made to work, it would be good for all concerned” said Bryant.
Meantime Desire Petroleum the British company that contracted the oil rig “Ocean Guardian” which is expected to begin exploratory drilling in Falklands’ waters next week fully ratified its plans.
“All this is most unfortunate, but has been anticipated for months. Desire’s logistics has not been affected”, said a spokesperson for the company.
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60 comments Feed
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”If the Isle of Man was won in a war by Argentina and the people on the Isle of Man considered themselves to be Argentinian would the UK be content to let them be? I don't think anyone would let that stand.
Argentina wants to protect their national interests, which would be taking the Falklands. The UK wants to protect it's national interests.
This goes beyond the Falklands, without the Falklands, the UK has no claims to Antarctica a resource Gold mine in the coming years. Simple.
Ray, North Carolina, US
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Quoting someone utterly ignorant of the history, floating a ludicrous and ill-informed strawman, is that the best you can do?<br />
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Robert, there was a joint agreement on oil exploration, Argentina chose to tear it up. As usual its a situation of their own making.<br />
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And really, a meeting to discuss the situation in Haiti being hijacked for Argentina to witter on about the Falklands. That is basically shameless.
The first person credited with seeing the islands is British.
The first to go onto the islands in recorded history, British.
The first colony i think was either spanish or french.
Argentinians know nothing, and they will not get a cent of that oil.
They have the smallest claim out of all the countrys to have been associted with the falklands.
Our 4 eurofighters on the islands are strong enough to beat 10 fold there number of the best latin ameran jets, and within a couple if weeks we could have 10 - 20 more there. If it ever escalates we have the newest and best attack submarine in the world. The falklands will be almost impossible to attack this time. All of the latin american armys are for defence, they have no strike capability. We can be as cocky as we like.
You don't know anything about South American polotics. Argentina hates Chile since it supported UK in the last Falklands war and is the USA strongest ally in the region. Peru is also a very strong ally and their economy is just recovering they would never waste blood and treasure for another country. Venezuela might become involved but Chavez has had a very hard time keeping his own people in line recently his army is completely untrained and has very little reserves left he can pull to finance a war. Argentina will come out the loser in this conflict and will be embarrassed again. Their arrogance is their downfall.
1776 :: Brits leave plaque to assert claim on abondoned colony
1811 :: Spaniards withdraw from colony
1816 :: UnPro of S.Amr 's independence from Spain
1820 :: flag of UnProof S.Amr( later Argentina) raised on islands
1828 :: Argentine settlements colony founded
1831 :: US warships destroy this colony
1832 :: Argentina sends a governor but killed in mutiny
1833 :: Brits return to islands again
tactics and shams are “”same“” in today's Iraq as were in
1831--1832--1833 !
at the front line there wrenched poor American kids(soldiers)
at the back lines cunning Brits Companies ( BP,,,Shell,,...)
and also the “same” in these forums :
at the front line : poor ,wrenched American kids like Nicholas......
at the back line : cunning Brits Kids like Jas.Arch.Roberts....
Si tengo que volver. No tengan dudas!!!
Anyway, I can't see the Falklanders giving up their homes any sooner than Argentinians of Spanish decent will return to Spain leaving the Native South Americans to their own lands.
I 'm English and I wonder that if my Welsh neighbours (the previous owners of 'England') get tetchy and push the point, does that mean I have to return to my Anglo-Saxon homeland of Northern Germany? Or do I look to those of my great grandparents that were Scottish, French and Danish? Decisions, decisions.
The “Falklanders” are not being asked or forced to give up their homes.
Do you really think that?...
Don´t be funny....
we'll enact about the present Malvinas habitants to come us
which contains :: privileged citizenship..land..job guarantee
at the public sector .. free education..free health service..free houses. !
The conflict in 1982, as well as the actual History of the colonization of the Islands, illustrates this. I suggest JUSTIN KUNTZ and BATODC, 8M and DARRELL to research precisely what happened.. Not just when the conflict commenced, and the world became aware of the dispute through partisan media outlets on both sides, but rather the actual history of the Islands (try the case study -- Falklands/Malvinas (A): Breakdown of Negotiations) before sharing ignorant and prematurely formed opinions with the good folk who venture to read these articles/comments.
And as for SAM, I am not certain where exactly you obtained all this tremendously well put together information of militaristic power of Great Britain and “All Latin Americas” but i think you'd be better served applying such knowledge to a video-game or maybe RISK.
$5
They could tell the rest of Latin America, well we feel threatened by Britain and we want to build a nuclear arsenal. We ask your permission, you will benefit from it by having decision making power for their use, if any one of us were to be struck first by an outside force first, and they could not be used against each other by limiting the launch codes to which all of you, say a UNASUR like body, have control. How would you deal with the Argies then?
What matters is the views of the people who live there and were born there. And before you come back with the hypocritical nonsense they are “implanted”, 99% of Argentine citizens are immigrants - you're “implanted”.
The islands are so far away form mainland, in the last war argentine jets only had around 5-10 minutes above the islands before they had to turn back.
Anyone with half a brain can see that britain now has anti air defences around the islands. In the form of either SAM sites and probably the 2nd of 3nd best multirole fighter in the world, and our ANTI AIR destroyers.
In combat simulations the Eurofighter beat the up to date russian jets 4.5 - 1. Seeing as all of latin america is using dated equipment, the argentines are using upgraded skyhawks, which are 50 YEARS OLD. So air attack is our of question.
What about by see, well us brits have the ASTUTE class submarine may only be 1 at the moment, but if tentions rise, i wonder where it will be heading.
These can deteck a shit leaving new york harbour from london, they are silent so you argies will never find then and have been credited the best attack sibmarines in the world, so it looks like sea it out of question.
So tell me JASON how will thes argentines or there allies reach the falklands, the second they start going down like flies, your public will react the same way they did the last was, and you will be praying for peece.
Britian is not a superpower i wasnt getting that at al , but compared to the argentine and the latin american countries who would help them, we are giants. You argentines wouldnt dare attack
as well known that “uncle sam”“ has been the pawn of english intelligence
or we can say differently that english s are the tail of ”uncle sam“ but
i don't know ” uncle sam”'s tail became shorter or longer !
Why is there a mission Chalfont?
Why British diplomats pressed the kelpers to accept an agreement between UK and Argentina?
Islanders has a brit passport right ?? then they are British, therefore not should be named as Kelpers.... so why a British should claim for a land that is just 12 hours flight away from UK... I don´t see the point of the islanders, just the point of the oil about to come...
Remember we are all men, if I cut you, you bleed, if you cut me I bleed.
Fighting is stupid...
Unfortunately our nature is selfdestructive. If British start getting oil over there, there will be a new conflict... but now will not be based on flags, just on oil. A conflict will bring misery to both sides...
instead of fighting, please see the movie AVATAR and understand that property of the word is what we have, not just two islands in the south of the world.
have a nice day
Mentor
The other day I thought about that. We need to activate “condor II” missile. It had 500-600 km range. We have Uranium and our nuclear engineers of INVAP could buid its head. Then, we should place it in my beloved Río Gallegos and show it to these son of the b...s!
We need agreement with Brazil and Chile before.
UK always understood the reason of force, never the force of reason!!!
British “people” who comment here are disgustingly ignorants and provokers.
Mentor, we use to have our own Passports - with no right of entry into Uk, But then Arg sorted that by invading us!!! UK decided that they would give us full british passports to help us feel more secure in future.
Travel time? - I assume you will also say that Chile must give up Easter Island as well immediatley! Also you had better give up Antarctica perhaps as well? Why do you not tell France to give up immediatley her small islands in the south Indian Ocean?
Nobody needs to fight and nobody will- unless your President goes totally loopey! The oil IF ANY - belongs to the Islands NOT UK. It will be for our Govt to decide what happens to any revenue. Had the Arg Govt not been so childish by throwing away the agreement of 1995 then Arg companies and Arg workers could have been participating in and making money from the exploration stages!
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They matter to the people who live there, the people who Argentines insult and describe as “squatters” in their own homes, people who have hewn a living from a cold and harsh envirobment, people who have been there longer than most Argentines. Bullying a tough and resourceful people will get you nowhere but it seems that Argentina cannot think of any other way than confrontation and threats.<br /><br />
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Also the British aren't looking at oil, the Falkland Islands Government is, Argentina could have shared and co-operated in the endeavour, instead you tore up the agreements.
Added: Friday, 19 February, 2010, 23:57 GMT 23:57 UK
The British have only been there since 1833 and the Argentinians had a settlement there before the British but the Americans destroyed it and handed control over to Britain.
The fact is a UN resolution has called on both sides to negotiate a settlement to the dispute but Britain, arrogantly as ever, has refused to do so. Its great that The British have some settlers there flying the flag who theyll defend to the death, too bad they didn't so the same for the natives of Diego Garcia. Hypocrisy?
A Maninahouse, Ireland
Added: Friday, 19 February, 2010, 23:55 GMT 23:55 UK
It is interesting to note that when Argentina proclaimed its independence from Spain in the early 1800's England was the first world power to recognize it and also recognized Argentina's claim to the Islas Malvinas.
Don Elliott, Columbia, TN
Added: Saturday, 20 February, 2010, 01:13 GMT 01:13 UK
People writing are really very bad informed. Nobody ever thought about a war, but yes, it could affect British investments in Argentina, restrictions in navigation, imposing visas, etc. I know most of you don't care at all, but for the people that know something about business, Argentina is the third economy in Latin America, and for HSBC, and several other investors, in particular raw materials and minerals, this could have a negative effect. Read, and if you don't know, keep off the keyboard.
Enrique, Zurich
Added: Saturday, 20 February, 2010, 01:04 GMT 01:04 UK
Last Time I checked all these are independant countries. Where as Falklands was taken by force and the english people from outside were bought in.. These people can continue to live in Argentina as Argentinian citizens. The land belongs to Argentina
Suresh Kamath, Edison, United States
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newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2&forumID=7516&edition=2&ttl=20100220115425&#paginator
“They're ours, give them back now, or we'll scream and scream until we're sick”
British Argument:
They were British before Argentina existed, the people there wish to remain British, have repeatedly demonstrated they do not wish to be colonised by Argentina and in the 21st Century self-determination is more important than illogical irredentist sovereinty claims.
Argentine reply:
“Usurpers, pirates, you sunk my battleship”
British reply:
“Resorting to insults is the first sign of losing the argument”
Argentine reply:
“The people there are 'implanted' to stop Argentina claiming its birthright”
British reply:
The people living there, many longer than the greater part of the population of Argentina have the right to determine their own future. Further, if the people are 'implanted' then so are most Argentines, since they ripped the land from the indigenous people and committed genocide.
Argentine reply:
“They're ours, give them back now, or we'll scream and scream until we're sick”
Notice a lack of cogent argument, childish insults and the inability to follow a train of thought.
You argentinians have no bargaining chip. You cannot do anything meaningful to annoy the UK, or to back up your claims. Your government knows that if they ramble on about taking the falklands back, the nationalists in your country will vote for them. That is why they make these strong claims.
I tell you now, you will NEVER get those islands back, N E V E R.
If there are large oil finds you may profit from them a little through helping the UK . But i assure you, you are all dreaming if you ever think you will have your precious MALVINAS back.
I ask any one of you to explain how your leaders will go about getting these islands back. The UN has much more important things to worry about. They know that a conflict is out of the question, and gordon brown is in trouble in the UK he is loosing support , 28 years ago Maggie thatcher Uk prime minister was also in trouble, she used the falklands to bolster her support and win her the election, Gordon brown will NEVER give these islands up without a fight, or he is gone, and neither will our new prime minister.
The argentine military is falling apart and latin america is in a bad state and will not comit to a conflict it knows is unwinable.
Argentina will not get these islands back , so stop moaning the british where they BEFORE you where, BEFORE you where even a country. So you will all have to sit and watch while we take all of the oil.
NEVER was said in so many corners of the British Empire but to no avail. The SUN DID SET and it will continue to do so.
Royalties don't go to Buenos Aires, only the taxes. Royalties is for provincies.
Jorge, UNCLOS gives the Falklands territorial waters and an EEZ, no matter how much you dislike it, its International Law you signed up to.
Because I don't think in this time the rest of latin america or Russian and Chinese Military forces will just sit back and allow another imperialist adventure by UK and US and other lackeys in their backyard.
Because I don't think in this time the rest of latin america or Russian and Chinese Military forces will just sit back and allow another imperialist adventure by UK and US and other lackeys in their backyard.
2 Steve
“...wouldn't have any faith in Obama, he's no Ronald Reagan.”
What idiotic comment what your implying is if Ronny was in the white house then it is OK to go to war!
Another imperialist minded brit.
I agree with you Ronald Reagan doesn't come off as incompetent as recent American presidents. Thats only because he was a better Actor than obama. The guy was a Yankee imperialist like all other American presidents developing an alliance with another imperialist Margaret Thatcher to spread UK/US impirialistic hegemony over the entire globe.
Ronald Reagan was only better in your eyes
Because in my eyes he was a more polished Actor (All that Hollywood actor experience obviosly helped) he managed act well enough while he was in the white house so many managed to convince a lot people that he was the real deal when he was just as criminal as the rest. Does the bombing of Libya or Iran Contra ring a bell or is with you he is only good when he joins forces with Margaret Thatcher in Bullying Argentina.
Las Malvinas belongs to Argentina!
I'm 100 percent with the Argentine people on this issue.
Idiots you think the Russians and Chinese will just sit back and allow another imperialist adventure in the world?
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First, to assume that I am Argentinean because I told you to seek out better information about the situation illustrates ignorance on your part that the only people in the world who would find fault in Britain's past actions over these islands must be Argentinean. Nah, I happen to be just a regular college student in NJ who happens to be informed about this case. As for this “implanting” thing, I want to congratulate you. It seems you do know a bit about something, even though the demographics of Argentinean population have absolutely nothing to do with the matter at hand, in any way. And yes, your best ally in this world happens to be a place of a whole mess of immigrants, many of whom aren't even there legally. <br /><br /><br />
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Anyways, My previous suggestion was to research the history of the islands through a unbiased source not a “argentine version” and I provided you with one from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. And that suggestion still stands you should check it out sometime...preferably before you type out your next comment. <br /><br /><br />
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And as far as “What matters is the views of the people who live there and were born there” this is true. However, the Islanders or Kelpers, know that good relations with Argentina is absolutely necessary, and affects many aspects of the quality of their daily lives. Lastly, please be smart and don't throw around the term genocide when it clearly does not apply.<br /><br /><br />
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SAM your comment doesn't deserve a response.
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