The 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region Annual Conference (BIMR) of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, hosted by the Falkland Islands Government, opened in Stanley Tuesday morning. The theme of the two-day conference is “Self-determination and its role in self governance and devolution”.
Falkland Islands lawmaker Dick Sawle invited to toast for “the existence of the Islanders” during a reception at Falkland House in London, on Thursday evening, at the end of a hectic but productive week of contacts, interviews and intense lobbying for the Islands and the coming March referendum.
Falkland Islands governor Nigel Haywood said that the “Islanders will reply in next month’s referendum” whether Argentina could be in control of the Malvinas archipelago ‘within twenty years’, as was announced by Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman earlier this week in London.
Falkland Islands lawmakers met on Wednesday morning with Foreign Secretary William Hague and regretted the absence of Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman but also understand Argentina’s deep concern with “our (March) referendum, which is why they spend so much time dismissing it”.
Falkland Islanders preparing to exercise their right to self-determination in a landmark democratic vote next March were pledged overwhelming support by the Falkland Islands Association at its annual general meeting in London on Saturday presided over by its chairman, Mr Alan Huckle, a former Governor of the Islands.
The British Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council this week agreed a joint statement underscoring a shared commitment to self-determination. The Falklands were represented at the council by lawmakers Jan Cheek and Sharon Halford.
Leaders of British Overseas Territories, including Falkland Islands Member of Legislative Assembly Jan Cheek met with the British Prime Minister at Number 10 Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo hosted the annual Gibraltar Government reception at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on Sunday which was also attended by Falkland Islands Members of the Legislative Assembly, Jan Cheek and Ian Hansen.
Lawmaker Jan Check is “cautiously optimistic” about the future of the Falkland Islands despite Argentina’s blockade and attempts to wreck the Islands economy, but if development continues to thrive, some neighbours will think twice before continuing to support the aggressive policy of President Cristina Fernandez towards the disputed South Atlantic Islands.
The Falkland Islands Government stand at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton welcomed a number of senior party members including the leader Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Argentine ambassador in London, Alicia Castro who was also attending the event.