Spain's main daily puts on the table Falklands'dispute

Monday, July 23rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

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This Monday, Spain's most prestigious newspaper El País from Madrid, brought light onto the Falkland Islands dispute by reproducing the speeches of Argentina's Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana and Falklands elected Councillor Richard Davies before the United Nations Decolonization Committee in early June.

Although over a month has gone by since the annual UN Argentine/Falklands ritual, the publication coincides with the official three days visit to Spain of Argentine presidential candidate Senator Cristina Kirchner, who has appointments scheduled with King Juan Carlos, President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, other top officials and meetings with the elite of the Spanish business community that has significant investments in Argentina. Not necessarily a mere coincidence. Following are the two speeches:Taiana rebuttal - the Falklands view (*) The Falklands Islands are a long established, vibrant and self-sufficient democracy lying about 500 km east of the southern tip of South America. We have never been part of Argentina and are culturally, geographically and ethnically distinct from our large and territorially aggressive neighbour. Twenty five years after the Argentine invasion we remain deeply grateful to sacrifice of British forces who liberated us in 1982. The arguments put forward by Dr. Taiana are morally, historically and intellectually flawed. Morally flawed, because they mask a cynical attempt to justify annexation of their small and peaceful neighbour. Such colonial ambitions have no place in the 21st century. Falkland Islanders have no desire to become part of a greater Argentina. Morally flawed, because Argentina attempts to deny that we have the right as a people to determine our own future. To deny us this basic human right is contrary to natural justice and the Charter of the United Nations. Historically flawed, because Falkland Islanders are not a "transplanted people?". Many people here trace their ancestry back to the1840?s, and individuals from a wide range of countries have become Falkland Islanders. Over the years we have evolved a distinctive identity and culture. Like all the countries of the New World, including Argentina, we are a nation of immigrants, but that does not mean we do not have the right to self determination. Historically flawed, because when Argentina occupied the islands in 1829 it was in the full knowledge of a longstanding prior British claim. The occupation was immediately protested by the British, and when Britain peacefully removed the small Argentine garrison 4 years later, they certainly did not expel a local population. When the Falkland Islands were discovered in the 16th century, they were uninhabited - there was no indigenous population to be oppressed, enslaved or eradicated. Intellectually flawed, because even if the Argentine historical claim had any merit, the events of two centuries ago do not over ride our right to self-determination. We need to resolve the problems of the 21st century, not those of the 19th century. Argentina's brief and failed colonial enterprise 200 years ago cannot give Argentina rights over a people who have lived here, administered and developed their country ever since. Intellectually flawed, because it is a clearly established principle of the United Nations that the political future of territories like ours should be determined in accordance with the wishes of their inhabitants. Falkland Islanders are strongly opposed to Argentine sovereignty and do not wish the British Government to negotiate our sovereignty with Argentina. We wish to continue our present constitutional association with the United Kingdom. This is not a colonial relationship but a voluntary and continually evolving partnership which is based on our right to self-determination, and which seeks to give us the greatest possible control over our own lives. This is entirely consistent with the principles and Charter of the United Nations. In addition to aggressive diplomacy, Argentina is attempting to further its nationalistic ambition by economic sanctions. These include refusal of permission for charter flights to cross their air space and threats to companies which fish in Falkland Island waters. Their recent withdrawal from 1995 Joint Declaration on Hydrocarbons will have little immediate practical effect but it closes a door for potential future co-operation and confidence building. It is easy to close these doors, but opening them takes patient work and political courage. The international community should not condone Argentina's behaviour by turning a blind eye. It should condemn such tactics and use its influence to encourage measures which reduce tension, which promote understanding and confidence. It should call for co-operation on important regional issues. There are many other areas of the world where deeply held convictions and principles appear irreconcilable, and yet progress has been made - look at the cases of Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. We in the Falklands remain committed to the concept of co-operation with Argentina on practical issues such as conservation of wildlife and fish stocks. We are committed to improving relations between our communities. For example, we have invited the families of those Argentine soldiers, sailors and airmen who fell in 1982 to come and hold a commemoration for their loved ones later this year. We believe such contact between our communities can increase understanding and heal the scars of war. (*) Richard Davies, Falkland Islands elected Councillor. 8th June 2007The Problem of the Malvinas - dialogue and diplomacy (*) In 2007 we mark several anniversaries reminding us of the necessity of solving the dispute between the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland about the sovereignty of the Malvinas, the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the maritime zone around them. 174 years have passed since the occupation of part of Argentinian territory by the British. On 3 January 1833 the United Kingdom effectively interrupted the peaceful exercise of sovereign power over the Malvinas by the Republic of Argentina. (The UK) occupied (the islands) by force, expelling the local population and Argentinian government, replacing them with a colonial administration and British settlers. From that time on, Argentinians from the Continent have not had the right to settle on the islands. However Argentina protested against this act of violence and continue to demand the return of the archipelago today. The international community recognised the legitimacy of our demands 42 years ago. In 1965 the United Nationals General Assembly adopted Resolution number 2065 (XX), recognising the fact that a dispute about the sovereignty of the Malvinas existed and describing that dispute as a kind of "colonialism". This resolution reminded both sides in the conflict of the necessity of beginning negotiations as quickly as possible and finding a peaceful solution, taking into account the interests of the islands' inhabitants. The Malvinas case is not a problem of people subordinated by a colonial power; it is a problem of a society of British subjects moved there in order to start a colony; it is about colonial territory, and not about a colonised people. All of the resolutions later adopted by the United Nations and the Organisation of American States and also in other international for a repeat that call. Argentina has expressed its readiness to undertake such negotiations several times. The United Kingdom - with the exception of 1966 and a couple of years following - has systematically declined. 25 years have past since the conflict in the South Atlantic. The situation both within Argentina and the United Kingdom led to its escalation. In the case of Argentina, in unfavourable political conditions, the military dictatorship took the decision to retreat from the traditional, peaceful efforts at returning the Islands. It was a mistaken decision. The Argentinian nation always knew that only diplomatic dialogue could return the full exercise of sovereign power over the islands. We mark this anniversary expressing deep respect for those who during the conflict did not spare their strength, and even gave their lives. As a result of the conflict - which the United Kingdom also bears political responsibility for and cannot feel free from that - the dispute did not lose its topicality, and its nature did not change. The United National General Assembly recognised that 5 months after the cease of hostilities. Just as before 1982 the international community continued to mention it in several interventions in the United Nations and in other fora. After the return of diplomatic relations in 1990 both States signed as sovereign entities a range of temporary agreements concerning cooperation in the South Atlantic in concrete areas, with the idea of creating a framework favourable to renewing negotiations on the sovereignty issue. However the United Kingdom, not paying attention to Argentina's protests, continues illegally to undertake unilateral activities, which make it difficult to put the cooperation agreements into practice and make difficult the efforts of the international community and drive us away from the negotiation table. On 10 June Argentina marks the anniversary of creating - in 1829 - "the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas". With this act, the government of Argentina confirmed its legitimate right to the islands and tried to ensure that regulations intended to guarantee the better defence of the local population were respected. In its constant efforts for a peaceful settlement of the dispute about sovereignty, Argentina will keep to its current demands, mentioning in all international fora the necessity of finding a solution as quickly as possible through bilateral negotiation. That is why constant support from States subscribing to peaceful resolution of conflicts has a fundamental meaning in concluding this anachronistic colonial dispute. (*) Jorge E. Taiana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Religion of the Republic of Argentina.

Categories: Politics, Mercosur.

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