Only the Falklands can determine its political future “not London, not Buenos Aires”
“We are well aware that Chile has a different position to us regarding the Falklands and this we understand, but it must be the Islanders who determine their political future, not London, not Buenos Aires or third countries”, said UK ambassador in Chile Jon Benjamin in an interview with the Chilean media.
On holidays in the Magallanes region, extreme south of Chile, Benjamin said that UK regrets the fact Chile has subscribed the Mercosur decision to bar Falklands’ flagged vessels from its ports, where for many years these vessels have been accepted and welcomed, as in most countries of the region.
However for Ambassador Benjamin what really concerns is the escalation of measures, including the threat by President Cristina Fernandez addressing the UN, to cut the only air link between the Falklands and the continent, which taken together are equivalent to an intentional incipient economic blockade of the Islands.
“That is a policy of isolating a civilian population, a policy that intends to intimidate the people of the Falklands”, underlined the UK ambassador.
And you regret Chile is part of all this?
“There have always been trade links between the Falklands and the Magallanes region. There has been a very close and mutually beneficial relation for over a hundred years, including family links because there are many Chileans in the Islands and we want to maintain and promote those links”.
Further on ambassador Benjamin rejected point blank Argentine claims that the UK is stepping up the Falklands militarily: “there has always been a navy patrol in the Islands and Prince William is a member of our Armed Forces, as a search and rescue pilot, and as such, all SAR pilots have a training period in the Falklands”.
Likewise Benjamin emphasized that since 1833 there has been a permanent settlement in the Falklands although British claims go even further back, to mid century XVIII, even before Argentina existed.
“My question is if territorial issues allegedly linked to sovereignty, dating back to 1833 have to be reopened? Who is going to stop other similar claims on territorial and sovereignty issues after 1833? Where is this whole issue going to lead us and what is the logic argument that tells us which of these issues can be opened and which can’t? I’m not referring to any specific case, it’s up to you and your readers to interpret as they wish what I have stated”, underlined ambassador Benjamin.
Regarding the air link from Punta Arenas to Falklands, Benjamin said that Chile “is a country most respectful of free trade and the government does not interfere in commercial issues of the private sector. And this flight, with a commercial purpose, has been ongoing uninterruptedly since the late nineties, so it is our wish that is continues as such”.
And what about the UK’s reaction to the US proposal of reaching an agreement based on a bilateral dialogue?
“That has been the State Department’s position for years. It sounds very innocent to talk about holding discussions but in this particular case the Argentine government is demanding that such ‘discussions’ lead to the handing over of the Falklands sovereignty. And my question is, how can negotiations be held if for one side there is an only possible exit?
Finally, is the discovery of oil behind the Falklands’ controversy?
Since it’s a British Overseas Territory, we believe the people of the Falklands have the right to develop their natural resources in the way they understand most convenient. In the nineties we had a series of cooperation agreements based on common interests on conservation of fisheries, on natural resources, hydrocarbons, and it was the Argentines who walked out from those agreements”.
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a message from Ushuaia, Capital of TDF, Antarctica & South Atlantic Islands (includes Malvinas islands).
The Argentines I know have Italian mothers, English father, Spanish grandfathers, German grandmothers, Welsh great great uncles. It's technically impossible to claim Argentines are a nation.
They also have the most comically fascist like government on the entire continent. Their entire policy agenda revolves around a group of islands they work 24/7 to alienate the population of. While spreading lies and peddling rants about “the British” that make Mugabe look normal by comparison.
Latin Americans find Argentina an alien culture, its a colonial relic, a piece of Europe transplanted onto a continent thousands of miles away. The culture is Latin European, with a touch of English and Welsh. It certainly bears no resemblance to its neighbors in Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, or Peru.
Even the Argentine honour guards wear colonial uniforms copied from the British and Spanish Imperial era.
They are a throwback to another age. An age of fascism.
What we have is not real democracy. We have a dynasty, in the hands of a woman who is the living reincarnation of Eva Peron. It is farcical! What other nations on Earth elect the wife to take over from the husband in the role of President? What kind of democracy is it that has to dig up 60 years of history and repeat it? In 60 years time, do we get a new husband and wife team, with the same policies?
Look at the economy a mess, a joke, in terminal decline.
Look at the corruption.
And you say the people of Malvinas are disenchanted? Have you asked them? I have been there, have you? My brother died there, I wish for no one else to die there on my behalf. I want the people there to be free and to be free they must have a right to determine their own sovereignty. not have it imposed on them by us. Go and visit them. You think you know them!
The same government sent my brother to die on those barren islands was the same government that murdered my cosine. It's about time people like you had a reality check. If anyone is living a fantasy, it is people like you.
Spewing hate and posting nothing of substance they think like the current Argentine government if they say enough distasteful and dishonest things then somehow it will happen.
Clearly they've never benefited from history otherwise they would of known that British fighting spirit is something that is not easily broken and for each of these slanderous, rude, disrespectful and childish posts or government actions garners more of the British spirit to the point where the British will go to war with Argentina either militarily, economically or politically and we all know there will only be one winner in those battles.
If the Argentina government genuinely wanted the islands and were not simply trying to pick a fight against a far more capable adversary to win popularity and deflect attention away from other problems then they would seek friendly diplomatic measures and this would surely be their best chance but as it stands clearly British patience is now running out with these childish games and all that will happen as has happened many times before is the UK is going to give Argentina a giant punch on the nose at some point.
I actually like many Argentine people and feel sorry for them being led and brainwashed in this misguided adventure that is bringing much shame on the country and can only end badly once more for Argentina.
Thanks to Benito who seems like a voice of reason in the current hysteria we see on the news and also on these forums.
I've been following this site for sometime but I feel time to post. I'm 16, I'm a kelper. If the Argies want the Falklands come and take it and see what you get. I just hope you have enough places to put your dead because we don't want any more over here!
I have been in Sea Cadets and Marine Detachment since I was 8. I plan to join the Defence Force as soon as I finish 6th form. Maybe to you I'm just a girl but I tell you now, come and see how straight I shoot. Come and find out!
There are hundreds more just like me, waiting. We've heard all the talk now come on!
I live in Ushuaia , I have been in Stanley for a week in Mrs Betts house. All welsh, english, american, italian, chilean, paraguayan whose live in Argentina dont adopt the self-determination in Chubut, Santa Cruz or Formosa Province... because they have to adapt their habits with the country who received them with open doors.
you want what you cannot have,
and you use abuse when other disagree with you,
and you refuse to listen to the truth, rather that the indocrination that you are taught with,
the islandes wish to be british, and left alone, and if you cant ecept this,
then what does that make you .
With all due respect, I really do not think you're Argentina, because we do not forget our veterans and even the English who were also victims of this conflict.
We are very proud of our President, that despite the attacks British, continues to promote peace and dialogue among peoples. If you have no doubt read the 10 UN resolutions have called for the United Kingdom to sit down and negotiate our sovereignty and it is the duty of all members to accept the resolutions of the Assembly ...
Read the resolution 2065 (XX) of 1965, ratified by later resolutions 1973 (3160, XXVIII) 1976 (31/49), 1982 (37/9), 1983 (38/12), 1984 (39/6) 1985 (40/21), 1986 (41/40), 1987 (42/19) and 1988 (43/25). They all declare the existence of a conflict of sovereignty, self-determination.
Benedict said: that is the living reincarnation of Eva Perón.
Thank God it looks like Evita Peron. I am proud to be Argentine, learn from Peron who taught us social justice, economic independence and political sovereignty.
Look at the economy a mess, a joke, terminal stage.
Today the economy was never so well, better than before, significantly decreased unemployment, fiscal balance and no distribution of wealth. Of course a long way yet, but it is the way forward. Thanks to Nestor and Cristina do not follow the International Monetary Fund. Just look at Europe and England even see the economic disaster that are the product of large-scale economic corruption of the United States and England.
Remember Falkland institutional cause of all Argentines, of all political stripes and generations and is the unifying factor of all citizens beyond the current government.
6 Benito: Do not condemn you, you will have your own reasons, I respect you, but you're wrong. Leave the hatred and resentment towards your land, do not be a tool of colonialism and imperialism and be an instrument of peace, dialogue between peoples. Remember Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize and understand. Thank you very much.
You may of not of heard the phrase 'Pot calling the kettle black'
Now I'm not suggesting any country is without elements of corruption but I think it would be a very brave man to call the USA/UK corrupt in comparison to Argentina.
I'd actually support dialogue if it wasn't for the immovable position Argentina has against the wishes of the people of the Falkland Islands, that's not dialogue, that is simply demanding an outcome against the indigenous people of the land and is the same pure colonialism Britain displayed hundreds of years ago.
Also I'd remind you all of those resolutions are non-binding (and out-of-date) which means the UK is not obliged/obligated in anyway to open them, the UN has given the UK the choice and the UK has chosen not to open a dialogue.
We agree on the fact that most of us have European roots (I'm an Italian Argentine), but saying that Argentina is not a nation is just bolloc*s.
If we are not a nation, I guess the Malvinas Islands is not one either, there you have brits, plastic brits, and people from Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden and so on,
Por que tanto resentimiento ? sos un benny ?
no it is not,,, you have to understand and exept, that if the islanders wish to remain British, that is the end of it, its called democracy,
It has nothing to do with being British to your extent,
If the islanders voted to be
Russian
Chinese
Argentinean American French or even guanos from the planet grotto,
You have to except that whether you like it or not,
You cannot demand that they become argentine or else,
That’s dictatorship [is it not?]
No, we don't want you to become Argentine, the islanders can be as british as they want (there are more brits in mainland Argentina than in the islands), we just want our islands under argentinan sovereignty
you ought to “understand and accept” that
you ought to “understand and accept” that
Well we don't understand and accept that. It's Argentina that hasn't got the islands so it's Argentina that needs to understand and accept that.
Tell me something El Gaucho. Will you all be listening to CFK tonight or can you just have the chip inserted by the clinics in the morning? LOL! Just a joke old boy! I'd hate you to take it as an act of military aggression.
Nah, I couldn't care less, I have not voted for CFK, I never did and never will... I have to work tonight and I'll be sleeping by 19:00 hs, so I guess I'll find out later or read it in the news tomorrow. Please do not take this as an economic blockade
Good for You Suzy, a Strong spirit and Right on Your side!!!!
Long Live the Falklands.
LOL!
Have a good sleep and make sure you have a good breakfast. You can't run an economic blockade on an empty stomach.
Hey Nancy, stop copying and pasting the same comment all over this forum, we already got the idea, as you are 16, so turn off the computer, go to your bedroom and jack it, you brave plastic brit
You say “I really do not think you're Argentina”, why is that Raul because I have a different opinion than you? You say, “because we do not forget our veterans”. Good for you. No we shouldn't forget that war or why it was fought. You on the other hand insult the memory of all those who lost their life when you suggest that only nationalists like yourself can “remember them”!
You say “We are very proud of our President”. Who is this “we”? All of Argentina? You speak for the whole nation? CFK got 54% of the vote last year, out of a 79% turnout. You know as well as me at least half of the country is fed up with CFK. There is no “we” in Argentina or anywhere else. You don't speak for me, you speak for yourself as I speak for myself.
“ If you have no doubt read the 10 UN resolutions have called for the United Kingdom to sit down and negotiate our sovereignty”
These are routine UN resolutions, there has been no Security Council resolutions since the Malvinas War. The islanders should be left to live in peace. If it was not for this constant barrage of abuse directed at them and their existence there would be no problem.
“Thank God it looks like Evita Peron. I am proud to be Argentine, learn from Peron who taught us social justice, economic independence and political sovereignty.”
CFK is not Eva Peron she is using the legend of Peron. CFK is deliberately using the conflict to deflect attention away from her mismanagement of the economy. Our inflation rate is one of the highest in the world and all the doctoring of the statistics isn't fooling anyone. Our newspapers have been stopped from reporting these facts. Look at the new terrorism law, it takes us back to the 70's. Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo has said said this, as have many others. It can allow the state to imprison people for up to 15 years for activities as diverse as marching in protests or pulling money out of banks. Can you defend this law? You think you will be immune to this?
My conclusions are CFK is now pushing this too fast but more fundamentally too far, and she does need a diplomatic rebuke, preferibly coming from South America in order to prevent her from utilizing “imperialism” piffle. Too bad the opposition did not hold their ground (they should have never agreed to attend this gathering convened by CFK, especially when it was not disclosed to them in advance what the purpose of it will be).
I have one question though: Would the UK have agreed, prior to 1982, to a “partial” handover? That is, East Falkland remaining British being home to 99.5% of the population and preserving their status and wishes, but West Falkland having been ceded?
Regarding 24 Benito
What's the name of that Argentine on here who is always doing the language tests? I can't remember his name. The one who cocked up over the lawyer AG Cowes. Anyway, you better get him and put Benito through the test. He is obviously British. LOL!
Well said.
No briton that is the eternal discuss.,, for us and for all our generations (and almost all the world) will be Malvinas Argentinas
[did I understand right, you think the world should be Malvinas Argentina]
I think the world would bitterly object to that,
The islands are not yours full stop,
And if you have the RIGHT to claim, then others have the RIGHT to claim parts of Argentina do they not.
.
Thanks!
Calling Rosa or Ginger!
You need to put Benito (24 and 6) through your language test. I'm afraid that either he is British or his chip has become dislodged.
You never responded me before......
Many of your British friends are present here today.....
You could maybe use this opportunity to prove that you are what you say you are... Afellow Argentinean.....
Four-five lines in (good redacted) Spanish responding to this request would suffice, dear Mr. Domingo.....
Do you “Think” you could manage?
Ps:
Must stop now.... The speech is getting more interesting
Don't tell me CFK is actually on the air waves with it. LOL!
Do keep us informed. Some of us are bored.
www.buenosairesherald.com/
she wants britain to give peace a chance :-)
Sometimes you really couldn't make it up! When reality is stranger than fiction!
They are part of the UK, everything has to do with the british conservatives ambition of Grabbing Resources and putting their military warships in this side of the WORLD, so important geo-pollitically, SO CLOSE TO THE ANTARTIC CONTINENT.
Self-determination?what a flimsy argument.The 3.000 Falklands´dwellers can be placed easily in one of the corners
of either Old Trafford or Stamford bridge
No, we are not part of the UK.
And the funny thing was, that the flight came back as soon as we had signed the 1999 agreement. What a strange coincidence.
AndyMac “I have been reading your posts on here on and off for some time”
Twins?
4 AndyMac
7 Xect
8 Suzy
10 The British
24 benito
27 xbarilox
34 stick on the board
Learn from John Lennon and Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize.
Give up hatred and resentment towards Argentina. Their claims are just as expressed by 99.99% of the Argentines of all political parties and religious beliefs in Argentina and Latin America.
This conflict is not resolved with resentment and revanchism. Resolved to peace and dialogue.
As Luther King said: There are no roads to peace, peace is the way. I think most of the English people have the same deep feeling. Peace, dialogue and Nonviolence.
John Lennon phrases that apply to British aggression and humanitarian bombing civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and threats to Argentina and Iran.
“Give peace a chance to” ..... “I can not believe I condecoren. I thought it was necessary to drive tanks and win wars. ”....“ If we take the power, would have the task of cleaning the bourgeoisie and keeping people in a revolutionary state of mind. ”
Lennon returned his medal Member of the Order of the British Empire in September 1969, through a letter addressed to his own Queen of England and sent to St. James Palace in London. The musician took this decision by the UK involvement in the Biafran war of secession, by the British Government's support to the U.S. invasion of Vietnam and the censorship of his song 'Cold Turkey', because references to including drugs.
”Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE (acronym for which knows the logo) as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra issue, against our support for the U.S. in Vietnam and against falling 'Cold Turkey' on the music charts. With love, John Lennon, ”reads the letter he wrote the music to the queen, as reported by 'Music News' collected by otr / press. Now, the Medal of the Order of the British Empire, could end up in a museum as fans demand musician.
If John is really a true revolutionary of peace and nonviolence.
We will not tolerate your piracy we hate you.
We have had 'peace and dialogue'. We have had talks and agreements with Argentina.
You have broken them all. Every last one.
You are in no position to lecture us. You are a hypocrite and so is your country.
Your approach of bullying and intimidating Falkland Islanders is not peaceful, it's not constructive, and it isn't even legal. It's the approach most likely to fail of everything you could have chosen (actually they are all going to fail from your point of view) It's vile, and until you can come up with something useful to say, I think you should stop parroting the same old rubbish. We are not taken in by you.
Learn from John Lennon and Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize.
Calm down and read without prejudice to Resolution 2065. It is very clear about it. To write the resolution at the United Nations were studied and contrasted both Argentine and British foundations and scholars and historians of the subject, watched the historical and social processes of conflict originated in 1833 and concluded and found that the Argentine arguments are robust and true and so prevalent principle of territorial integrity over self-determination. Argentines were expelled and prevented their return. History says so.
As I put myself in your shoes, please you, if you in the shoes of the Argentines, who suffered the colonial dispossession in 1833. You do this exercise. Remember the four English invasions suffered by our country and the size and voltage of death and violence which caused England. Imagine now the suffering of the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya with its humanitarian bombing civilians and see who is the colonialist. Remember that in the Committee of the UN decolonization, of the 16 cases of colonialism, 10 correspond to the UK. Including the Falklands, Gibraltar and others to give you an example.
United Kingdom continues to genocides around the world and has the gall to talk about self-determination when they forget to reference the English is that this principle does not apply to the Falkland Islands, because as recognized by the United Nations population is implanted, as it indicated in a dozen resolutions of the General Assembly since 1965 and expressed each year by the Special Committee on Decolonization. ”The appeal to self-determination English settlers, is unfounded, being even contradictory to the history of other territorial disputes involving the British and Hong Kong and the island of Diego Garcia.
You have made all of that up and you are a liar and a troll. I have nothing more to say to you.
The English invasion of your country? When was that?
You mean the British landings made on Río de la Plata between 1806 and 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars, carried out by the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot - The Highland Light Infantry a Scottish Regiment, part of a British Army.
My God man how far back do you morons need to go? Not only didn't your country exist in 1806 but your great, great, great, great, grandparents would have been sucking mommies milk somewhere in Europe at that time. Indeed some of your ancestors could have been on the British side. It's almost incredible to think someone is scrapping the barrel so deep they have to drag this one up.
You people really do make yourselves look like complete buffoons.
I propose an economic and shipping blockade by Latin America, Royal Navy harassment of Argentine shipping, the suspension of air links and constant ratcheting up of the rhetoric and tension, followed by a claim that Argentina is militarising itself in defence. And a call on the UN Security Council to take action against them.
There we go. I am sure you can see our claim is as relevant as theirs!
Why do you refuse to read carefully the resolution 2065 and the Next 10? Each year the Committee on Decolonization United Nations calls upon the parties to resolve a dispute of sovereignty. No self-determination.
It was approved by 94 votes in favor, none against and 14 abstentions
Argentina achieved with the statement that the United Nations should interfere in the Malvinas Islands Question, recognize the existence of a sovereignty dispute, the solution of the problem supeditasen to negotiations between the two countries taking into account the interests of the islanders, leaving aside the principle of self-determination required by Resolution 1514 (XV), because not asked the United Kingdom which would grant independence to the Falkland or take into account the wishes of the islanders.
On March 18, 1966 an information circular of the General Secretariat of the United Nations informed the UN members that from that date, the name of the islands in the official records of the agency would ”Falkland (Malvinas)“ documents in English and ”Falkland (Malvinas)” for documents in Castilian.
The resolution was ratified in 1973 by Resolution 3160, XXVIII, with 116 votes in favor, 14 abstentions and none against, in 1976 Resolution 31/49 confirmed the above and added.
(...) Urges both parties to refrain from taking decisions that would imply introducing unilateral modifications in the situation while the islands are undergoing a process recommended in the aforementioned resolutions (...)
Added that motivated the United Kingdom voted against, was approved by 102 votes, with 32 abstentions.
Other similar resolutions were: 37/9 of the General Assembly, November 4, 1982 (37/9) adopted by 90 countries, 12 votes against and 52 abstentions, the resolution recognized that the war ended five months ago did not alter the validity or the nature of the dispute. Annually, the General Assembly and the Special Committee on Decolonization, continued acting in the same direction.
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