Stories for January 22nd 2012
“Hard to understand why a country of 45 million threatens the Falklands with 3.000 inhabitants”
A member from the Falkland Islands’ elected Legislative Assembly said it’s hard to understand why a country of 45 million people like Argentina insists in threatening a country of 3.000, and underlined there’s not a single Islander who wants to be an Argentine.
A “psychological war” to persuade UK to negotiate Falklands’ sovereignty
So far it’s a psychological war to try and persuade the British to begin Falkland Islands a sovereignty discussion with Argentina but there is nothing to discuss about since the Islanders don’t want to belong to Argentina and that’s it, said UK retired Major General Julian Thompson.
Historic Portsmouth dockyard could face the axe, says The Sunday Times
UK arms manufacturer BAE Systems said it was reviewing its warship business but refused to comment on a newspaper report that it was set to close the historic Portsmouth dockyard.
“Argentina not looking to organize a blockade of the Malvinas”, says Timerman
Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman said that Argentina “is not looking to organize a blockade of the Malvinas” but only wants “to counter British interests” based on the Unasur and Mercosur decisions to bar Falklands’ flagged vessels from having access to regional ports.
Falklands confirms second oil rig has reached the Islands; spudding planned for Monday
Falklands oil industry sources confirmed that the semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson oil exploration rig has reached Falklands’ waters and should be spudding its first well next Monday.
EU shipping safety review to take full account of Costa Concordia sinking
A review of EU passenger ship safety rules is being stepped up following the Costa Concordia shipwreck off the Italian coast. Europe’s transport Commissioner Siim Kallas announced Friday that the review, which began in 2010, must take full account of the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the cruise vessel Costa Concordia in shallow water a week ago.
Falklands operation to release land from Argentine planted antipersonnel mines
A project to release land from antipersonnel mines planted by the Argentine invaded forces during the 1982 Falklands conflict is “progressing solidly” said Guy Lucas, Chief Executive Officer from BACTEC a group which specializes in explosive ordnance, mine action and bomb disposal.
US and Russia joint team to inspect all foreign installations in Antarctica
United States and the Russian Federation will send a joint team to inspect foreign stations, installations and equipment in Antarctica from January 23 to January 28, 2012. The inspection will be conducted pursuant to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its Environmental Protocol.
Argentina is “not intimidating Falkland Islanders”; claiming sovereignty right
Argentine Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo, quickly hit back at the statements made by the British government, after Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Argentina “should stop their intimidation attempts” against the Falkland Islanders.
