Jeremy Browne alerts Argentina against Falklands’ politicization of London Olympics
In an interview to British newspaper Financial Times, United Kingdom’s Foreign Office Minister for South America, Jeremy Browne, alerted Argentina against the politicization of the London Olympics, set to begin on July 27th by bringing up claims over the Falklands.
The UK's government had previously expressed its fear Argentine athletes will use the games to call attention to the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty cause.
“If the Argentines were minded to use the Olympics as a platform to try and make wider political points, or to sort of air, in an inappropriate way, their disagreements with Britain, I think that would be a mistake. I think it would be regrettable.”
Browne said, in addition, he expected no political statements will be made during the Olympics.
“We are very much hoping that Argentina and everybody else enjoys the Olympics as the magnificent spectacle that it is,” he stated diplomatically.
And added: “I think they appear to realise that at a political level. I don’t think their athletes ever saw it any differently. I think they want to compete; they want to enjoy what will be the pinnacle of their athletics careers.”
Last week, a British Sunday newspaper said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had received intelligence reports stating that Argentina “may try to exploit the event to attract global attention to its campaign for sovereignty over the (Malvinas) islands” at the Olympics.
Those reports, however, were disputed by President Cristina Fernández.
“We’re not stupid. We don’t need to use sport to stand up for our rights. We’ll defend our rights in appropriate forums, like the UN”, said the Argentine president in a recent ceremony to farewell the delegation that will compete in the London Games.
“Our (Falklands/Malvinas) rights we defend in the right forums. We are going to the Olympics to compete in sports, where we represent our flag and we don’t fall into silly things. You have to represent in English soil with great care and great pride, our homeland. And with more care than ever, if somebody tries to annoy you, to provoke you just keep going and give the example”, said the Argentine president.
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Sport for CFK is just another realm for tactics to try to advance her Malvinista cause. The Argentines have done the unexpected in these tactics and one must expect no less in London.
Probably little doubt that in spite of CFK's words, they WILL use all the forums that they can squeeze into. They've been planning their surprises for several months, and less than a month away now, we'll see if their planning has paid off.
However, neither FCO nor others are necessarily just going to wait to see what CFK cooks up, but might have something up their sleeve as well to push out their if the need arises.
I think half the country doesn't even know when they are. I certainly don't.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Look, Argentina is no good at Olympic sports, we just don't care about individual disciplines. Argentina does well in team sports, and their respective world cups. That's what we pay attention to. I think the Handball world cup got more coverage on Ole.com than what the Olympics have had so far.
You both are very ignorant people, TyC Sport will be covering the whole event and I look forward to watching it, like ESPN is now covering Wimbledon and Fox Sport will covering the British Grand Prix.
Tennis is a whole different matter and yes people watch it, doesn't matter where the tournament is. F1 still has a following but has declined signicantly with the younger generations. Its become too aloof, elitist, and a mechanical version of Polo, except that unlike Polo which is the unofficial national sport in Argentina, F1 does not lend itself for tradition as the venues change constantly.
TC has really taken a huge chunk of the market share of F1. People can go to the races, and the racing cars are accessible in the internal market, which means people have personal interests in the makes, as well as both the pilots and the brands. And TC with smart rules have made the races exciting. I prefer it over F1 which can be a snooze fest at times.
Guys, the world can't help it if you have your heads in buckets and the 'class A' hypocrite CFK spends your money on tasteless Olympic videos supporting the Malvinas myth. If only hypocrisy was an Olympic sport then CFK could represent the women and Timmerman could represent the men (apologies to real men everywhere).
There being held in Afghanistan this time. Plenty free tickets for cheap Argentine nobodies, so get yourself over there.
Because you're not allowed to fire military rifles at the Olympic Games.
If there is any 'political act' by Argentinian 'Olympic persons' during the Olympics - especially in the London - then you might argue that the whole team entourage be deported immediately.
No, any stunt would be 'off the patch' .... and probably undertaken during the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Argentina's behalf by Venezuelan 'politicians' under the auspices of electioneering for Chavez's Bolivarian solidarity.
Then expect a return match at the world cup.
Then sport, will well and truly be dragged into the gutter.
We don’t think Brazil would be best pleased,
Leave politics out of sport,
And do not let spoilt deluded politicians use it for there own ends.
#15 Interesting, what about??
Piece of imbecile. I live in the best land: Argentina. Never live with the horrible picture of your queen in Canada so shitless cold and away from Argentina and our Malvinas Islands!
british falklands,
malvinas does not exist .
With the exception of the SAS and SBS, you Argentine Muppet.
MALVINAS ARGENTINAS,
“falklands” does not exist . Everybody knows that.
look at the map,
and it has been for over150 years,
british,
not argentine .
oh well try again .
Well we call it the Falklands pal, and we're the ones who own the place. You want the islands to be called Malvinas? you'll need to get us, the Falkland Islanders, to agree to it.
Good luck with that.
Calm down dear, you'll do yourself some damage.
Argentina has no rights to the Falklands, never has and never will.
If Argentina trys to use the Olympics in this political way, you will ostracise yourself from the rest of the world - except your best friends of course:
Venezula
Syria
Iran
North Korea
China
Nice people you Argentines hang around with, but beware, China is always on the look out for a new Province. :o)
Really? Do you care to watch the English basketball league?? Do you watch US soccer? Argentine baseball??
Of course not, these countries are awful in those sports. Who wants to watch bad play?
Nothing to do with sourgrapes, you just have your inflated and unwarranted British narcisism. Argentina doesn't care of the Olympics period, not just the Olympics in London.
With international media starting to focus on the Games, anti-British, anti-Falklands actions could be in run-up or after-games as a time, and not in Britain for ideal place for CFK to promote her anti-Falklands actions in order to get maximum coverage and maximum media scoring against Britain and Falklands interests.
Trying to think of a thread of tactics used by CFK so far, and maybe she is focusing efforts on a “divide and conquer” route? Get British media stars to make anti-Falklands statements, make approaches to Scottish and Welsh nationalists. Who else and when? Thinking of a calendar of big, international events coming up in next several months.
So far, its been CFK actions, and British and Falklands re-actions. Argentine offensive manoeuvres versus British and Falklands defence. CFK playing for her country, scoring points for her party. However, the Falklands move to actions could include referendum and the fisheries/flights letters?
Probably public opinion polls in both Argentina and Britain would suggest that the Argentine strategy is working for CFK, but that Britons are more sympathetic to Falklands cause than before.
Falkland Islanders are probably even more resistant than before the most recent CFK actions, but with referendum and the letters, there could be an emerging suite of Falklands foreign policy initiatives?
¿where are your rights, pirate?
“The Spanish governors were appointed by the government of Buenos Aires and residing in the colony founded by Bougainville in Puerto Soledad (now Port San Luis) and of course living there, whose mandate was indicated in the list. The British had occupied only Port Egmont in 1765 (Saunders Island) after the founding of SOLEDAD, by Bougainville (1764) who recognized Spanish sovereignty and gave the colony to the Spanish Crown (1767). Spain DID NOT buy the colony, but paid Bougainville (not France) a sum for his expenses in Soledad. From 1767 until 1811, without interruption was governor of the Malvinas.
The first Spanish governor, Ruiz Puente, upon learning of the presence of English in Egmont sent to Madariaga, who in 1770 SURRENDERED to the English. To avoid a war with England, Spain allowed the British to return to Egmont (Masserano Declaration), pledging they leave, which they did in 1774. This ends the British presence (8 years) on an island in the archipelago, the island Saunders (Trinidad for us).
In total, spent 44 years of uninterrupted presence of 20 governors until 1811 that due to the emancipatory revolution in Buenos Aires, Soledad was evacuated. Produced Independence Argentina (Prov. Unit River Plate) in 1816, the new state inherited the islands as part of its territory, and soon sent to David Jewett in 1820 to take possession of the islands which makes his government name (Buenos Aires).
In 1829 the central government created the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas Islands by the appointment of Luis Vernet commander and to Pinedo. After 59 years (1774 to 1833) Clio in 1833 appears to make a real usurpation and lower the flag of Argentina ... until April 2, 1982.”
We went to war Jose, we lost. That is the only right they need.
If you wan't the Falklands (I don't), Argentina needs to build a military that will defeat the UK. With the current dissipation of economic resources CFK is engaging in that will not happen.
OTOH, if Argentina got serious, stopped mollycoddling the poor with hand outs, the middle class with subsidies, and the rich by perpetuating nepotism, then the country could grow 5-6% for 30-40 years, surpass the UK in wealth (it can because we did it before so its proven we can). That combined with the inevitable slow decline of the UK due to demographics (and Argentina's population still growing a bit), could make the balance of power shift in 50 years to were military confrontation would be disadvantageous to the UK.
That is the way to go Jose, the hard way. The one that builds the foundations for a country that can take whatever it wants. I'm not an advocate of this, because such things are 19th century and should be left there.
But if you do want the Falklands the best way to do so is making the country strong financially and militarily. CFK IS NOT DOING THAT.
Another great post, TTT, you are on a roll. This is definitely your day. I suggest you play the lottery, you might just win a fortune!!!!
I do not know if you're English, Kelper or what. I could care less. You talk about how you pose as Argentina. I do not. I AM ARGENTINE.
Your arguments are worthless. Never force-the only argument they have-given rights. No argument because if Argentina is a giant Haiti (with my respects to that country), that is a great country very poor, that would not give the slightest legitimacy to the illegal occupation British in the Malvinas. What counts are the titles on a territory and not the occupation, and there are many precedents in this regard in the International Court of Justice ruling in favor of legal title over the occupation.
Take it to the IJC then, the last time this was suggested, we said that the IJC had no jurisdiction over us!!!!
Spain dropped its sovereignty claim more than 10 years before acknowledging Argentinas existence. That leaves the British who had claimed sovereignty since 1690 and the only valid claimant left.
Argentinas whole claim for sovereignty lies on these things:
1. Spanish Governors who were based in Montevideo, not Buenos Aires, so perhaps Uruguay has a better claim than Argentina.
2. Inherited from Spain....er...no, the Spanish dropped its Soveignty claims to the Falklands before its treaty with Argentina.
3. Colonists. Hmm a military penal colony in place for less than 3 months, before mutinying, murdering their Commanding Officer, raping his wife in front if his children. A colony that the British had already protested and sent HMS Clio to remove. However, since the colony had already failed there wasn't much to do. The actual colonists, the ones that had been there before the UP illegal penal colony remained and their ancestors live in the islands today.
4. Proximity. Errr no, firstly if this bizarre claim was upheld it would set a president that would allow every country in the world to look at their neighbours and claim their land because it's closer to them. Secondly, the Falklands are actually 4 miles closer to Chile than they are to Argentina.
So no, Argentina has no historic, legal or moral claims to the islands, and in 1850 your governemnt signed a treaty with Britain which stated you had no outstanding disputes with us, and indeed maps produced by Argentina after 1850 clearly show that they didn't believe the Falklands were Argentine territory.
All your claims are lies and distortions of the truth, hence why Argentina wouldn't go to the International Court of Justice, because your government knew and knows that legally it hasn't got a leg to stand on.
Since 1982, the Falkland Islanders have created their own government and economy, are completely self sufficient except in defence and foreign policy, but thats where the UK helps them out.
Just for the sake of our argie “pals”, it is worth notong that such a move would be a breach of the Olympic Charter. See the Bye-law to Rule 50. The result is disqualification for a competitor and withdrawal of accreditation for anyone. Followed by a trip home because the British government will “note” that such an individual no longer has any reason to be in the UK. Go on, girls, carry on with your “cunning” little plan!
@23 Pity. Based on your previous posts, I thought you were stupid. Now it seems you're stupid AND ignorant!
@31 Really, child! If you had the brain of a TURNIP, you would have done some research. You could have started with this site. And noted how many times claims such as yours have been REFUTED. Do you understand REFUTE? (To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.) You could also try reading this: falklandshistory.org/sites/default/files/false-falklands-history.pdf See? You've got nothing.
@35 “Title” to a piece of land is proved by a document. It's called a “title deed”. Got any title deeds to show us, Jose? Forget the sob stories by disgruntled argie nobodies. Forget the “diaries”. Probably created last year. Title deeds, Jose. On the right paper, written with the right ink, that can be checked forensically. No “copies” from your national archives, produced in the 50s and 60s of the last century. The thing is, Jose, argieland doesn't have anything like that. If it did, it could have produced them a hundred years ago. Your claims are FALSE, sonny boy, and the argie government knows it.
yea right!
Bloggers on here, has just spent nearly two weeks covering this subject, with Hermes,.
Now then, are you Hermes,
If not , then please look at the blogg,
This has been argued into the debts of the known universe, and argentina lost,
Please try another subject .
You can't beat Hermes for digging up every last possible justification of the Argentine claim, and still he couldn't make it stand up. See :
en.mercopress.com/2012/06/20/argentina-s-diplomatic-circus
And credit the Troll with the ability to reach his own conclusions, rather than just parrot the ones he's been given.
and unfortuately MercoPress decided to end that debate, as there are some serious errors in Hermes last posts, e.g.
Hermes 1967:
3. “British diplomats statements specifically about the islands are supposedly invalid”
3.1. With even basic knowledge of source criticism it is easy to point out the most serious flaw in this argument, namely that all three base their assessments on *one single secondary source*, namely the memorandum written in 1910 by a Gaston de Bernhardt (F.O. 881/9755), the Foreign Office’s Assistant Librarian, based on the primary sources he had at his disposal more than a one hundred years ago.
3.2. Add to this, that only *one* of them was a diplomat (no matter how much Hermes wants them to be “diplomats”), the other two were civil servants in FCO. This does not sum up to *diplomats* (plural).
It's work related so can't say
as he failed to convince us, .
I don't think that will succeed, in the internet age mind you. 40 years ago, perhaps. Not today though. When the Olympics are done, there will still be austerity, strikes, unemployment, and rumours of default.
Austerity - yes (like Argentina)
Strikes -yes (like Argentina)
Unemployment - yes (like Argentina)
Rumours of default - Nope. this is why people are queing around the corner to buy our bonds. In some cases they have a negative yield (so people are effectively paying us for the priviledge of buying our bonds). (unlike Argentina).
Britain is currently building TWO (2) 65,000 ton aircraft carriers. The last time argieland had an aircraft carrier, it had to buy it third hand.
Britain is currently building THREE (3) 7,000 ton nuclear-powered fleet submarines. With TWO (2) more already launched and TWO (2) more to come after those. argieland has 3 diesel electric submarines, all built in Germany.
Britain is currently building a class of SIX (6) 6,000 to guided missile destroyers. argieland has 3 3,300 ton frigates, all built in Germany.
Britain already has a major rail network and completed its first high-speed rail link in 2007. argieland has to ask China to fix its railways. Britain is also considering its second high-speed rail link.
Britain's GDP is between two and four times that of argieland.
And, unlike argieland, Britain has a long history of paying its debts.
NO, they're taking the opposite approach from us, THATS why I post support for Cristina on here to continue a discussion from another thread...
just make sure you keep supporting your empress when she is old and or in the nut house.
TTT,
you came close,
but no cigar lol.
Hey you noghead, rail travel makes sense in very densely populated areas like Europe, Japan, and Eastern China, but makes no sense in sprawling countries. That is why rail travel infraestructure is nugatory even in the 'rich' USA, and in a much less densely populated country like Argentina it makes even less sense, except for cargo.
As for the rumors of default, just google “UK stealth default”, I'm not just inventing that. :)
The other stuff don't matter, if the UK wants to dissipate its dwindling coffers on showboats, by all means. Aircraft carriers are the biggest waste I have ever witnessed. What do France, Italy, Spain, and the UK need a combined 9 aircraft carriers?
Not like none of you ever have the guts to use them, except on people living in mud huts somewhere in the Magreb.
Try them on China, now that would be valiant.
Cristina has already said that they are entering a period of structural austerity, she confirmed this with her “We don't live in Dinsey land” quote. She was says that wages could not alwasy rise and that, as such, people would have to take pay cuts under the rate of supermarket inflation.
Further more, the inflation rate hits the poorest in society so, each day that they have money in tehir handas to pay for goods, thse goods are getting more xpenisve (due to the lack of ability to hedge). As such, inflation is leading to structurally imposed austerity (again, something which Cristina has recognised).
together, we dont have [09] carriers .
most are hulicopter carriers, or we think a few whith out dated jump jets, if at all .
I'll give you just one example of austerity measures in Argentina:
12/05/12 - 1 kilo of bananas ARS$ 9.32
04/07/12 - 1 kilo of bananas ARS$ 9.90
That is almost 6.3% increase in 2 months or 3.15% per month or 37.8% per year, now that is a tax which hits hardest on the poorest, BK, that you can't deny.
That is austerity in Argentina and your “queen” doesn't pay taxes!!!!
Simon, a question, its 18 months since I was in BA..... is sugar still in short supply and is butter still absent from the shelves?
Sugar and butter are both available quite normally in our local supermarket. There are less makes of cooking and olive oil available.
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