Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 - 19:56 UTC

Spain says Falklands’ dispute is bilateral: EU should refrain from involvement

Spain has declared that the European Union should refrain from any type of involvement in the Falkland Islands dispute, according to the official news agency EFE. A spokesman for the Spanish Government, which currently holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, is quoted as saying that “this is not a European matter but a British one, a bilateral affair rather than a regional one.

Madrid supports Argentine claims over the Falklands

Spanish diplomatic sources have stated that the conflict aggravated by the exploratory oil drilling round begun by British companies in Falklands’ waters, which has exacerbated Argentina, “should be solved through a process of dialogue between the two affected parties”.

Buenos Aires contends that Britain is seeking to exploit the natural resources of a territory Argentina believes rightfully belongs to them.

The Spanish Government says it understands that Buenos Aires should be recruiting support among South American countries in its sovereignty claim over the Islands, but considers that “the EU should not get involved as it is not a bi-regional matter”.

Madrid also notes that the EU does not take sides in other territorial disputes “like that of Gibraltar” between Spain and UK, or other territorial hotspots between South American countries.

Spain has always supported calls by South American diplomatic summits for Buenos Aires and London to renew negotiations on the political status of the islands according to United Nations resolutions.
 

Published in: Politics, Falkland Islands, International.

18 comments Feed

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1 Mariano (#) Mar 02nd, 2010 - 09:01 pm Report abuse
oops ... little by little no1 is standing by the UK.
2 Beef (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 12:42 am Report abuse
Who is standing with Argentina? South American countries didn't bother signing any agreement at your little club last week. Your President sought help from a number of corrupt, drug money ran Governments. This is all she thinks her nation is worth, shameful. Nothing came out of the UN and Clinton was “not interested in getting involved”. Spain is gearing up to be the next Greece and the Islanders right to self-determination is protected in the Lisbon Treaty. We don't need any more support, as we have all the best peices left on the board. Argentina has played all its best moves and gained nothing. By the way, the oil rig is owned by an American company. This tells me all I need to know about where America really stands on this issue!
3 Rhaurie-Craughwell (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 12:56 am Report abuse
The irony of Spain on this occasion is lost to no one!

unless of course you inhabit the cardboard box of south America which insulates it from the reallities of the outside world!
4 Rhaurie-Craughwell (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 01:15 am Report abuse
Funny how Spain wanted the EU on board when their pet rock was invaded by the Fuzzy wuzzies in 2005 though.

spain would do well to keep their trap shut, as soon the UK will (reluctantly) bail out their failing economy.

However you can't blame them, a country with the most seccesionist movements in europe (6) has to keep up it's appearences, one wrong move and next years family is going to be in Catalonia del Sol :)
5 Hoytred (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 01:27 am Report abuse
I think this is right, the dispute is just a metter between Argentina and the UK and everyone else should stay away from it. The UK doesn't care if it has no support at all, it won't make an ounce of difference. The islands are British and until such time as the inhabitants say otherwise, are going to remain British.
6 Mark (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 05:50 am Report abuse
Nobody in the whole world supports UK and their colony in South America, not even USA, Malvinas is part of Argentina and the America continent not the UK nor Europe 10000 miles away.
7 Beef (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 07:23 am Report abuse
Mark. The oil rig is American owned. How does America not support the UK position when it is a peice of Yankie hardware doing the drilling?
8 M (#) Mar 03rd, 2010 - 11:26 am Report abuse
Mark...youre arguement is severely flawed. The Falkland is not a colony, it is self-governing and self-sufficient with the exception of defence. The Falkland Islands Government were the ones who issued and sold licences to explore for oil in Falkland Waters, it had nothing to do with the British government. And also, the Falklands, to my understanding were part of Africa, and broke away to settle near South America. You need to get your facts right before you attempt at a debate.
9 Willy (#) Mar 04th, 2010 - 02:54 pm Report abuse
What a way to listen nonsense things, how can you say that the Falklands were part of Africa? Ohh, yes all the continents were united in Gondwana 250 MM years ago.<br />
I cant believe your ignorance. The British only known the argument of force and war. They do not understand diplomacy, but as they say now that they will defend the Falklands, we just have to wait for the recovery of the Argentine army and joining with other Latin American countries recover the Falklands in the only language that they understand.<br />
10 khh (#) Mar 04th, 2010 - 11:41 pm Report abuse
willy wonka, the argentine army recovering is like saying palm trees will grow on antartica. spudmatics is all they can handle, so grow patatos.
11 Hoytred (#) Mar 05th, 2010 - 03:13 am Report abuse
But the British DO understand the art of diplomacy which is why the Falkland Islands remain a British Overseas Territory. And in 1833 we very diplomatically invited the trespassing Argentinian garrison to leave ..... which the diplomatically did :-)
12 pedro (#) Mar 06th, 2010 - 01:26 am Report abuse
los ingleses son todos unos homosexuales y borrachos cuando estemos aburridos vamos a nuestras islas y los sacamos a patadas en el trasero y dejamos unicamentes a nuestros kelpers de 4ta categoria haci creo los llaman alla en londres no?
13 Jorge (#) Mar 06th, 2010 - 04:39 am Report abuse
Que las Malvinas eran partes de África, que no es una Colonia Pirata, que convide de lo que esta tomando. . . . <br /> <br />
. . . . . ¡¡Malvinas por siempre Argentinas! <br /> <br />
14 Hoytred (#) Mar 06th, 2010 - 04:54 am Report abuse
Pedro & Jorge, you are just whistling in the wind :-)
15 Jorge (#) Mar 06th, 2010 - 05:22 am Report abuse
Hoytred, veo que estas tomando lo mismo que M, y eres un reverendo pelotudo. <br />
. . . . . ¡¡Malvinas por siempre Argentinas!
16 pedro (#) Mar 06th, 2010 - 04:59 pm Report abuse
hoytred querido kelper argentino,porque no te preocupas ya de hablar en forma amistosa a tus compatriotas ARGENTINOS ,de nada sirva que te sigas arrastrando detrás de los piratas,tu para ellos eres un ultramar de 4ta categoría, para nosotros eres un hermano mas, acá te proveeremos de todo lo que te haga falta,ten dignidad no sueñes que eres como ellos.ellos se creen esclavos,vasallos de la vieja y retrograda reyna ,reyna de que? no se dan cuenta que son todos esos unos parásitos que viven de los giles británicos,y de los pobres esclavos irlandeses??? chau compatriota,feliz sábado
17 Islander (#) Mar 07th, 2010 - 01:44 am Report abuse
If you two want to talk in Spanish - fine - but go to the Spanish website!As regards Africa - sorry but yes it IS a geological fact - ,America broke off from the West side of Gondwanaland and drifted across the Atlantic. The Islands broke off AFTER from around the bottom South East corner up nearer Port Elizabeth and came on after S.America - that is the factual geological record. Our rock structures and formation below have more in common with SE side of S Africa than with Patagonia.
18 Al (#) Mar 08th, 2010 - 10:34 pm Report abuse
Jorge, you use the term “colonia pirata”. Even my spanish is limited i think i understand. You are of course referring to American commander/captain Silas M Duncan, who in 1831 used the same words to describe ,what he considered the present inhabitants at that time to be. He charged them PIRACY . Liberated 3 captured (and rubbed!) ships and brought the bandits to trial. After i have read this information, i better understand, why you so often use the word pirates....

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