Stories for December 21st 2011
Falklands’ government regrets Mercosur decision but understands the “bullying tactics from Argentina”
Members of the Falklands elected Legislative Assembly deeply regret the Mercosur decision to ban Islands flagged vessels from entering their ports, but also understands “the bullying tactics from Argentina”, said an official Wednesday release from the Falklands’ government.
New Falklands Association chairman pays tribute to David Tatham and anticipates “a very busy 2012”
As previously reported by Mercopress, Mr David Tatham, a former Governor of the Falkland Islands, stood down as chair of the Falkland Islands Association at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Association held on 10th December after the Battle Day Ceremony of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London.
The thuggery of Argentina's Falklands claim
By Ian Dunt @IanDunt<http://twitter.com/iandunt - “The protection of peoples' self-determination to choose their own government is the protection of the weak from the strong”
Foreign Office says economic blockade and intimidation of the Falklands’ people is “unacceptable”
“It is unacceptable to engage in an economic blockade of the Falklands, there can be no justification, legal, moral or political, for efforts to intimidate the people of the Falkland Islands”, said Foreign Officer Minister Jeremy Browne on Wednesday.
The Falklands are resourceful and will adapt to changing logistics say industry sources
Reacting to the news this week that all Mercosur member countries had agreed to close their ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag, Cheryl Roberts, chair of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association, stated that: “It is still too early to say exactly what the effect might be, whilst obviously disappointing we are now working to find solutions to minimise any potential impacts, both operational and economic, of the recent decision.
“Malvinas is a global cause” because it involves the grabbing of natural resources
“Malvinas is not an Argentine cause, it’s a global cause because they are taking our fisheries and oil resources” said Argentine president Cristina Fernandez on taking the Mercosur rotating chair for the next six months.
Mercosur supports Argentina: bans access to all Falklands/Malvinas flagged vessels
Mercosur member countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) finally agreed Tuesday to close its ports to ships flying the flag of the disputed Falkland/Malvinas Islands, announced Uruguay's president at the closing of the group’s two-day summit in Montevideo.
Chavez claims five Paraguayan lawmakers are impeding Venezuelan access to Mercosur
President Hugo Chavez claimed that a small group of Paraguayan lawmakers, manipulated by a “powerful black hand”, are impeding the long-delayed access of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur.
Lugo complains restrictions on market access and in energy integration
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo called for the free flow and free access of his country’s goods to Mercosur senior members’ markets and insisted on the energy integration of the block.
Mercosur signs free trade agreement with Palestinian Authority
Mercosur signed a free trade agreement with the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday, the first between the territories and a block of nations outside the Arab world. The ceremony took place during Mercosur presidential summit in Montevideo.
