Obama confirms at the summit US neutrality on the Falklands/Malvinas question
The US will remain on the sidelines in the dispute between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands sovereignty, said President Barack Obama on Sunday at the conclusion of the Summit of the Americas in Colombia.
“We’re going to remain neutral,” Obama said at a news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. “This is not something that we typically intervene in”.
“We have good relations with Argentina and Britain and we hope they are capable of continuing the dialogue on the issue”, added Obama who on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with President Cristina Fernandez.
However President Santos underlined the strong support for the Argentine position from the majority of the 31 leaders who attended the summit. “The great majority of countries called on both sides for a peaceful resolution of the controversy”.
But Santos also admitted that the Falklands/Malvinas and Cuban issues were the most intransigent impeding a consensus and therefore no final declaration from the summit.
“We had two options, focus exclusively on drafting a resolution on the usual terms, vacuous, as has happened so many times, or speak frankly with the issues on the table: those issues we share and unite us and those which divide us. We decided for the second: all the issues on the table, those that unite us but also those that divide us”, summed up president Santos who nevertheless praised the summit for its “dialogue and sincerity”.
“Most countries support the participation of Cuba in the Summit of the Americas and many said that a process must be initiated so that this objective becomes effective when the next Summit” indicated Santos who then added that the “in the Malvinas situation all participants of the summit have confirmed their consensus position in statements from the OAS (Organization of American States). This time the debate took place without modifying those agreements and the majority of countries called for a peaceful solution to the controversy”.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica also made reference to the lack of a statement on Cuba and Malvinas and said that “the two political issues at the summit were really those which are not mentioned”, but he added this was anticipated and coincidences were reached in some obvious points such as inequality, poverty, sustained and inclusive development.
Brazil’s international affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia said the presidents did not stamp a final declaration at the end of the summit because of the positions from the US and Canada vetoing a proposal to invite Cuba to participate in the coming summits, but also because “of the lack of support for the Argentine sovereignty claim over the Malvinas”.
Meanwhile President Cristina Fernandez anticipated her return to Buenos Aires leaving immediately following the ‘family’ photo of all the leaders.
Brushing aside rumours that the president advanced her return because of a lack of consensus on the Malvinas issue, sources close to the delegation that travelled to Colombia said that the anticipated return was on the “official agenda”.
Apparently President Santos promised his Argentine peer that at the final press conference he would refer to the Malvinas issue and the strong continental support for the Argentine claim. Santos also downplayed the fact that Cristina Fernandez left before the end of the summit, “she had business to attend” in Argentina.
However the Colombian leader revealed that following his opening speech of the summit on Saturday, the only one to be aired on Colombian national television, President Cristina Fernandez approached Santos and said “your forgot to mention the Malvinas issue”.
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Yes, agree with that.
“of the lack of support for the Argentine sovereignty claim over the Malvinas”. Brazil
Yes, agree with that too.
So, rather than outrage at British colonialism (sic), it seems that most want a peaceful settlement (I.e. Argentina not to attack again) or are not that interested at all.
Looks like Queen Botox has been overplaying her hand a little.
If non democratic Cuba gets an invite to the 7th conference, how about an invite for the democratically elected FIG?
@
Santos: “Blah blah blah blah blah blah cuba isn't democratic blah blah, the end”
*clapping*
KFC: “your forgot to mention the Malvinas issue”.
Santos: “Oh shut up you boring monomaniac, no one cares about you and your pathological neo-fascist expansionist doctrines”
*KFC storms off home taking pills*
The EU support us and that largely comprises sensible clear thinking people. They just don't feel the need to trumpet their views on a daily basis. I could make a longer list of sensible countries that support us but I've only had one cup of coffee this morning and so am not fully up to my factual incisive best. We don't stand alone in this issue and it is only Argentina that feels the need for a dramatic production over it. The good news is that they seem to have given up on sending us mobs of belligerent thugs accompanied by tv crews but I guess that might be due to the weather having turned a bit cold for camping.
Most Argentines believe that the Falklands/Malvinas problem will never be solved, at least during their lifetime.
However, if the Argentinians were stupid enough to try and re-invade the islands, Obama, like Reagan before him would have to decide whose side the USA is on even if they don't give assistance overtly:
1. Their long time allies, who have the legitimate and moral claim on the islands, both historically and within the UN charter.
or
2. A bunch of whinning people who constantly ally with enemies (or at least not friends) of the US, who have no legal or moral claim to the islands and who owe the USA lots of money.
I'll bet that'll be a difficult decision to make. :-)
I wouldn't be surprised if he'd have said 'you mention the islands, and this meeting is over'.
In the Americas 32 of the 34 countries support Argentina, 2 are neutral, not bad at all.
The files that exist on Falklands in France, Spain, Britain and Argentina are the same, there is nothing that is out of this world and all renowned experts have researched and have come to the conclusion that never belonged to Great Malvinas Britain. And this small group of Britons who as I said, do not know anyone, and do not know what to do to versear people and to become victims to seek support from countries that are neighbors and friends in Argentina.
The USA were utter cowards, they did nothing during the Spanish retakings of Caracas and Mexico City after they had revolted. Did nothing with the French in Mexico, did nothing about the British in Canada. Argentina was the only one who fought all three (Spanish, English, and French), for the cause of republicanism in the Americas against Royalism and Royal tyranny.
Please can you provide the source of your 32 countries support Argentina and 2 are neutral claim. Ideally not an Argentine source but something verifiable from a neutral source.
From the information I have seen, no poll was taken, and many leaders were reluctant to discuss, let alone offer support. The Canadian position is also not one of neutrality either.
Thanks in advance.
Why would Mr C beg Mr O to support the UK, he is not supporting Argentina is he? that seems politicaly acceptable.
- Canada is definitely pro-self-determination
- Antigua&Barbuda most likely pro self-determination
- Dominica most likely pro self-determination
-Honduras is unclear, but after kicking Zelaya out, I wouldn't be surprised if they remain neutral.
-Jamaica very likely to be pro self-determination.
Marcos continually proves he's an idiot.
Forget them, and concentrate on your own country, it needs you,
Leave the Falklands alone.
savvy.
I have a fancy that this has a while to rumble on yet. there will definitely be a conflict over this as the RG's get egged on by loud mouths such as morales, who will then run for the hills when the UK start dropping the bombs.
there will be another very unhappy ending for the RG's again over the islands which they have no claim to.
If I remember my school history correctly, the USA (1861-1865) was involved in a bitter civil war and were not in a position to do anything. The Union and Confederates were too busy “killing each other” over the slavery issue and the South wanted to break away from the union.
Napoleon III was trying to get into the good books of Austria. When the war ended Napoleon III was told to removed the Foreign Legion from Mexican soil or be forcibly removed. Not wishing to fight a war thousands of kilometres from Europe he complied with the US ultimatum. The unfortunate Maximilian, brother of the Austrian emperor Frans Josef, was captured and shot by the Mexicans under Juarez in 1867.
This was certainly a case of the Monroe Doctrine being invoked.
There is a lot of information on this topic on the web.
Philippe
No others countries must intervene there....and at a table talk you can't go with an irrevocable position if not what about the talk will be ?? Flowers and birds ?? Or what was first, the egg or the hen....???? Both sides must be open to give up some to reach a consensus....that be accomplished and respected for ever, of course........not other way is available to get peace between both of them.
Do you own a house or a car?
Well I want them! Please give them to me.
no? Ok well we need to reach a consensus.
Please give me half the value of your house and car, then we can have peace forever...
Consensus is only the right solution when both parties have a just claim. The Argentines don't have a just claim, just a made up version of events from 1833 which propaganda they feed to their schoolchildren, and a ridiculous notion that island groups 300 miles from the mainland automatically belong to the nearest country (despite there being dozens of cases where that is not the case).
So, unless you are prepared to give me half your house and car, and then half of what's left to the next person who makes up a claim...etc etc, the consensus argument doesn't work.
You are a total fucking prick.
There is an old saying “He who lives in a
glass house shouldn't throw stones”.
You live in a country governed, run and owned
by European's who took the land of the native
peoples under the force of a gun. There have
been no land redistirbution. The native people
of Argentina are amongst the poorest in the
world, acording to Amnesty International 95%
of native American's in Argentina live below
the poverty line and struggle to feed their
families, depending on aid handouts.
Your country talks about colonialism yet has
the largest number of outstanding border
disputes of any nation in the world. Many of
these with Chile, Paraguay and Uraguay have
been put on hold, under signed treaties but as
we all know too well, Argentina only complies
with a treaty while it serves her to.
Argentina claims that Britain stole the
Falklands from her in 1833, yet Britain's
claim to the Falklands dates back to 1591 when
we discovered the Falklands and became the
first nation to set foot on the Falklands, the
first nation to name the islands and the only
nation to PERMANENTLY settle the islands.The islands already beonged to us.
As if this was not enough, Argentina claims
S Georgia, the S Sandwhich islands, S
Orkney islands, S Shetland Islands and the
whole of Br Antartica! Yet Argentine does not
claim we stole these lands from her! She just
claims them anyway!
Like Argentina continues to claim the Chilian
Andes Ice Shelf and Martin Garcia Island in
Urguay which Argentina occupys as a form of
Guantanimo Bay within Uraguayan borders.
On the 30th Anniversary of a war started by a
fascist military junta, that had spend the
previous years raping, torturing and
slaughtering 100,000 Argentine children & young people, your government and large numbers of your people are burning flags, rioting and proclaiming your rule over other peoples islands. IT IS A FU
You have to accept the facts that aborigines of north, central and southamerica don't want civilization. If you drive around the aborigines reservations in the US you will see that the aborigines want to remain the same: uneducated and living on goverment assistance for the next generations. This is a fact.
Their lands taken by the US goverment had one purpose: to accept civilization.
You know that if the US goverment did not take their lands because“ belongs” to aborigenes we all here in the US we will wearing a feather on our heads and living in their type of primitive housing, dying of starvation due to the lack of farming, no grooming, no healthcare, etc.
Aborigenes are very difficult to understand.
Aborigenes don't want civilization.
They want to remain the same foverer.
The aborigenes in the US don't want to celebrate the discover of America on October 12 of each year because they blame Spain of killing the wild aborigines.
The aborigines here in the US wants to be called native “americans” after bleaming Spain for the killing but they accept the name of “ america” in HONOR of Americo Vespuccio. You see, they don't make any sense.
This is a fact, like it or not.
Your continued blaming of the argentine leader and my country history will do any good. The worst economic times are found here in the US with a 15 trillon national deficit. The US might default for paying their foreign debt to foreign countries.
The US is grabbing any dollar offered by foreign goverments like Bangladesh. It takes my attention that Bangladesh do not invest their dollars proving food for their starving population. I was there. In Argentina I have not seen the same level of starvation.
So get lost!
This is a fact.
Read the Comparison of the Australian aborigine with the American Indian by Dawn Hawkins.
American Indian and Australian Aborigenes by Tim Giago.
Sir, the YPF and the AA was sold to Spain by C.Menen.
The argentine goverment bought back Aerolineas Argentinas from Spain and now is buying Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales. YPF was the place my mother's family work for many years. Senor, por que es tan testaduro?
However, if he were really trying to be neutral, wouldn't he have absented himself from meeting briefly enough so that his lack of support for an anti-Falklands consensus would not have been recorded?
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