For peace and reconciliation, we need talks on Las Malvinas
By Alicia Castro - Today marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in the South Atlantic, but the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK goes back 179 years. It dates from the time that Great Britain – in much the same way it invaded Buenos Aires in 1806 and 1807 without success – invaded and took the Malvinas by force in 1833. In this lengthy historical process, the events of 1982 are the most regrettable.
The military junta that ruled Argentina at the time abandoned negotiations and started a war as a vile attempt to win people's favour and cling to power. Nowadays, a democratic Argentina repudiates the war and prosecutes those responsible for the crimes committed.
Today, our President attends the meeting of the UN Decolonisation Committee, the body that specifically deals with 16 pending colonial situations, including the “Malvinas/Falkland Question”. The international community – through the UN and other multilateral fora – has urged both countries to resume negotiations. So this is what my country asks: that the UK enters into negotiations with us over the future of the islands.
Britain's excuses for not negotiating are unfounded. They cannot hide behind the so-called self-determination of the islanders when no UN resolution has recognised such a right, unlike cases in which the principle is applicable in the context of decolonisation. This is a special case that involves a colonial territory, not a colonised population; its inhabitants are not the original people of the islands. It is a population installed by Britain after 1833. There are only 1,339 inhabitants who were born in the islands. And more than 1,500 soldiers. Is it rational that the “wishes” of this population obstruct the relations and understanding between two countries and two regions?
We are committed to respecting the islanders' interests and way of life. They are British and proud to be so; we respect their Britishness and identity. We are willing to offer safeguards to preserve their way of life. It is in their own interest to improve links with mainland Argentina. Geography and common sense dictate the need for negotiation.
Latin America has expressed as a single voice in support of Argentina's claim. If the UK wishes to build a stronger relation with our region, it has to make a political gesture and listen to the calls for negotiation by the international community.
The trauma left by the conflict on both countries requires a solution by a genuine reconciliation. The only victory that can ever be celebrated will be that on the day when our respective nations sit down at the negotiation table to the benefit of peoples of both parties. War should not be celebrated. The only way of honouring the fallen from both sides is to strive for peace and reconciliation.
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As a footnote, I spotted a comment under an piece in an Argentine paper that was reporting the wailing's coming from BA about our referendum and it went something along the lines of “isn't it funny that the Islands are the only part of Argentina that is peaceful, prosperous and doesn't have corruption”
Who were the original inhabitants of Argentina? Native Indians mostly slaughtered by Spanish and Argentines?
Who are the Colonialists?
British were in the Falklands before Argentina existed,1765.
Forget the 1833 nonsense .
Argentina did not exist in 1806 and 1807. The invasions were against the Spanish, who at that particular time were allies of Napoleon, christ woman read it again, you declared independence after Boney was defeated at Waterloo. Do you not know your own history?
The Falkland Islands had no natives
She is a moron
no we dont!
Most of what CFK & Co say and do about this issue is intended for internal consumption, rather than external effect.
Doesn’t matter if it works against you in the rest of the world, or even makes you look stupid.
Just as long as it looks and sound good in Argentina, it is after all a distraction.
She should be blaming the UN, not the UK.
The Falklands is not a “colonial situation”. Unless Argentina is one as well!
Britain doesn't make excuses. But you're right. There is no UN resolution about self-determination for the Islanders. That's because it's in the UN Charter, STUPID!
Strange that the Islanders don't seem to share your view that association with Argentina is in their interests.
You can have peace and reconciliation any time you want. Just give up your lying, unjustified “claim” and learn how to act responsibly.
So the same reason you are pursuing the islands now.
Nowadays, a democratic Argentina repudiates the war and prosecutes those responsible for the crimes committed.
Britain's excuses for not negotiating are unfounded. They cannot hide behind the so-called self-determination of the islanders when no UN resolution has recognised such a right, unlike cases in which the principle is applicable in the context of decolonisation.
So the UN does not enshrine the principle of Self determination in the UN charter? No UN resolution has ever stated it does not apply either.
This is a special case that involves a colonial territory, not a colonised population; its inhabitants are not the original people of the islands. It is a population installed by Britain after 1833.
There is no indigenous population, the islands where approxiamtly 1000 miles from the nearest part of the Province of the Rio plate in 1833. The population was not expelled and chose to live under British rule. Islands had already been British for a long time prior to 1833.
We are committed to respecting the islanders' interests and way of life. They are British and proud to be so; we respect their Britishness and identity. We are willing to offer safeguards to preserve their way of life.
So you are going to allow them to continue their system of self election and self governance and not pay the Argentine government any taxes (the same way they pay no taxes to the UK government. The 1994 consitution places them as part of Tierra de fuego not their own province.
victory that can ever be celebrated will be that on the day when our respective nations sit down at the negotiation table to the benefit of peoples of both parties.
There is three parties not two!
Threats no
Offer no.
The stills arent that stupid give up british governance that lets them run their own affairs pretty well.
For an argentine goverment that doesnt run argentina well yeah that seems like a brilliant plan not.
END OFF.
just starting now
Islanders dont
The same old pro Argentinian bias and misinformation.
but ya plastics running, and ya brain fried,
soddy offy
CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
AND STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SAN FRANCISCO • 1945
CHAPTER I
PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1
The Purposes of the United Nations are:
1. To maintain international peace and security,..... and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law,
adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and SELF DETERMINATION
of peoples, ....
“El estado de nuestras relaciones exteriores responde á las aspiraciones del país. Nada nos reclaman las otras Naciónes: nada tenemos que pedir de ellas, sino es la continuación de las manifestaciones de simpatía con que de parte de pueblos y gobiernos ha sido favorecida la República por sus progresos y espíritu de justicia.” (Heraclio Mabragaña 1910, vol. III, p. 286 which can be found in Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina, Agüero 2502, Recoleta, Buenos Aires)
“The state of our foreign relations fulfils the aspirations of the country. Nothing is claimed from us by other nations; we have nothing to ask of them except that they will persevere in manifesting their sympathies, with which both Governments and peoples have honoured the Republic, both for its progress and its spirit of fairness.” (printed in: British and Foreign State Papers 1870-1871 (printed London 1877), p. 1227-1228).
Argentina's president declared that the country had no claim on other nations.
End of debate for any intelligent person.
www.facebook.com/Britain1592
The French and Spanish were the indigenous people of the Falklands ? You are misinformed and a fuckwit. In addition 1850 conceded there was no Argentine claims to the islands.You were still slaughtering native Indians in Patagonia.
Free Patagonia Argentine colonial pirates !
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