UK Science minister calls in the Falklands en route to Antarctica tour
Science and Universities Minister David Willetts has become the latest UK politician to visit the Falklands. A spokesman for Mr Willetts said he would make on Thursday a “transiting visit” en route to an engagement in Antarctica.
Tensions have risen in recent weeks between the UK and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falklands ahead of April 2 that marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands conflict when Argentine marines invaded the Islands.
Mr Willetts' spokesman said he was making a “long-planned” tour of the British Antarctic Survey in Rothera and would call at the Falklands on the outbound and inbound legs of his journey to pick up connecting flights.
He said the Conservative minister did not have any “official” engagements planned during his stopover. However Mr Willetts would hold talks with British military commanders while on the islands.
He is also due to host a dinner with Governor Nigel Haywood and hold discussions on policy matters, including whether the Islands' students should have to pay tuition fees, the newspaper said.
Mr Willetts also reiterated the position expressed by Prime Minister David Cameron that the Falklands would remain British as long as Islanders wanted to do so.
“What matters is the right of self-determination of the people in the Falklands,” he told the Times. What matters is the right of self-determination of the people in the Falklands.
“They made it very clear they wish to remain British and this should be seen as part of Britain’s historic links to the south Atlantic and the Antarctic.”
The minister is traveling with Dr Mike Pinnock, head of science resource planning at the British Antarctic Survey, and once in the Antarctic, he will spend several days examining how £40 million a year is spent on research in the region.
Minister Willetts flew from RAF Brize Norton Wednesday night according to The Times. He will stay at Mount Pleasant, the military base 30 miles southwest of Stanley, the capital.
Argentina has called on the UK to enter into negotiations over the Islands' future - something Britain has refused to do.
The impasse has sparked strong words from both sides and prompted United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon to issue a statement expressing “concern about the increasingly strong exchanges”.
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www.buenosairesherald.com/article/92951/britain-set-for-malvinas-islands-oil-windfall
Run that by me again Christina baby,you want us to give you the Falkland Islands :-))))))))
He had his chance and blew it,
He should have referred Argentina to the ICJ,
Now he should mind his very own??
And the islanders and the brits should tell him to get lost,
Any crumbs given to this woman just excites her to the point of satisfaction.
We all know where this is heading,
.
That disparity is only going to get bigger.
Given that there are only two bases on the island, Rothera and Teniente Luis Carvajal Villaroel Antarctic Base (that the Chileans have run as a summer only station since 1984 when BAS gave it to Chile) it's not altogether surprising that he isn't catching a ship from anywhere else, seeing as how summer is coming to an end and Teniente Carvajal will soon be shut for the winter.
AHHAHAHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAH!
Except that they forget to say that there is no way that figure is true and that there is nothing they can do WTHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM ARGENTINA....
What a bunch of LIARS..my GOd!!
:-))))))
@12 Precisely.
Do you honestly think the oil companies would have invested tens of millions already if it did? The oil is ABSOLUTELY viable without the support of Argentina.
I think you're living in a alternative reality.....
What great support! Argentina is living in the stone age if they think there are not ways for the oil industry and the Falkland Islands to get around the issue of the banana-republic neighbour known as Argentina.
The great argentinian business sense, nearly surpasses their skills in naval strategy.
www.eia.gov/security/distable.html
Global Oil Supply Disruptions Since 1951
Now now, Malvin, behave yourself. That's a good gentleman.
:-))))))
Sure losers.DO you know the infrastructure you need for off shore????
Just talk to the people that work,in a much better cndition in TdF.....
Now isolde.....my GOd....Grow up isolde
It might need support from Chile and Uruguay for local expertise in building them though. Rest assured, Argentina will not be needed, they can get back to their economic blockade.
7 February 1821 Captain John Davis (born Surrey, England in 1784), a sealer, MAY have been the first to set foot on Antarctica.
1893-1895 Confirmed landing of Henryk Bull, Carstens Borchgrevink and Alexander von Tunzelmann at Cape Adare. These three men are, respectively, Norwegian, Anglo-Norwegian and a New Zealander.
1898-1900 The Southern Cross Expedition (aka British Antarctic Expedition 1898–1900) was the first expedition to deliberately over-winter on the Antarctic mainland.
1901–1904 Discovery Expedition – led by Robert Falcon Scott, on 30 December 1903, reached (82° 17′S) (aka British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04)
1901–1903 Gauss expedition (or First German Antarctic Expedition) – led by Erich von Drygalski
1901–1903 Swedish Antarctic Expedition – led by Otto Nordenskjöld with captain Carl Anton Larsen
1902–1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition – led by William Speirs Bruce
1903–1905 Third French Antarctic Expedition – led by Jean-Baptiste Charcot
1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition – On 9 January 1909, Ernest Shackleton reached 88° 23 ′S (Farthest South), and on 16 January 1909, Professor Edgeworth David reached the South Magnetic Pole at (72°25′S 155°16′E) (mean position) (aka British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09)
1908–1910 Fourth French Antarctic Expedition – led by Jean-Baptiste Charcot
1910–1912 Japanese Antarctic Expedition – led by Nobu Shirase
1910–1912 Roald Amundsen's South Pole expedition – On 14 December 1911, reached the South Pole (90° S)
1910–1913 Terra Nova Expedition – On 17 January 1912, Robert Falcon Scott, reached the South Pole (90° S) (aka British Antarctic Expedition 1910)
I've stopped around 1910 for lack of available characters. Please notice that FIVE out of eleven expeditions from 1898 were British. If you think that the Antarctic Treaty bans visits by politicians, what were Pinera and Mujica doing there 13-15 January?
... can't be so bad.
Apparently none of the oil companies realise this isn't a viable option whilst investing tens of millions into the project.
Hmm, I think I will take the professional opinion of the oil companies over some hate filled lunatic.
You finally did it!
You learned to spell “LOSER” & not “LOOSER”.
l'm so proud of you, Malvin♥
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