Argentina is “waging economic warfare” on the Falklands

Monday, June 15th 2009 - 13:35 UTC

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Councillor Summer: “We don't have good relations.” ”They are taking an economic warfare approach.

The Falkland Islands government has accused Argentina of waging a campaign of “economic warfare” against it, according to an article in the Sunday edition of The Guardian by Robert Booth.

Speaking on the 27th anniversary of the end of the Falklands war, Mike Summers, a member of the Falkland Islands legislative assembly, said Argentina is deliberately hampering the islands' three main industries of fishing, tourism and oil and gas exploration.

He said the British overseas territory's economic development is being held back by Argentinean policies aimed at forcing the islands to accept claims of Argentinean sovereignty. The Falkland Islands, or Las Malvinas, as the archipelago is known in Argentina, has a population of around 3,000 people and an annual income of £75m. But the Islands' government believes the affluence of its inhabitants is being deliberately held back by Argentina.

Summers complained that Argentina has withdrawn from a commission to manage fisheries, which provide the bulk of the Islands’ income, which means fish stocks may be seriously damaged; that Argentina has stopped charter planes traveling from Chile to the Falklands by banning them from using Argentinean airspace which has damaged the cruise ship industry; and the hydrocarbon business has been hit by a presidential decree from Buenos Aires that prevents anyone who works in the hydrocarbon industry in Argentina from doing the same in the Falklands.

“We don't have good relations,” Summers said. “They are taking an economic warfare approach. It has created tension between the Falklands and Argentina. Economic development could be improved if we got on better. While the clear stated intention of the Argentines is to take over the Falklands whether we like it or not, we can't cooperate better.” The block on charter flights from Chile to the Falklands means cruise ship passengers and crew cannot easily reach the Islands and this is hampering the ability of the Islands to capitalize on the growing south Atlantic cruise ship business.

A spokesman for Argentina's foreign ministry said the measures would remain in place until Britain agrees to resume talks over Argentina's claim of sovereignty.

“We have taken these measures because we have to preserve our position and our resources in the region,” the spokesman said. “We are not intending to harm the Islanders.”

Categories: Economy, Politics, Argentina, Falkland Islands.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Luis
Councillor Summers, with all due respect, dont lie to the people, Argentina never blocked regular charter flights from Chile, only its extra-planned flights. Lanchile flies to malvinas every Saturday morning, departing from Santiago and flying via the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Once a month the flight also stops in Rio Gallegos (Argentina) in both directions.
link:
http://www.visitorfalklands.com/content/view/186/
About the fisheries commission, what did you expect? we have a sovereignty dispute and until the United Kingdom accept to negociate to resolve the dispute many things like this will happens. Nevertheless the
argentine withdrawn from the commission never stoped islanders from fishing.
But obviously mr Summers dont know what is an economic warfare. Mr Summers, an economic warfare is what the cuban people suffered for 47 years (setting aside any political comment) and iraq's children from the first gulf war.
http://www.visitorfalklands.com/content/view/186/
Jun 15th, 2009 - 03:33 pm 0
Expat Kelper
Luis,
You are missing the point completely. Argentina is pledged at the United Nations to preserve the interests of the inhabitants of the Falklands.

We all know and understand Argentina's real intentions which are not inclusive for Falkland Islanders at all.

Their actions are just more examples of why Falklands Islanders should not believe a word of what they say or trust that any of their actions will ever be in their real interests.

I am sure that people in Argentina know all about economic chaos and political double dealing it is a way of life for you.

Get real man!!
Jun 15th, 2009 - 07:28 pm 0
AndrewG
Luis,

before accusing a man of lying, perhaps you should beef up on your knowledge.
Start with looking up the difference between a 'scheduled', and a 'charter' flight. The WEEKLY Lan Chile flight is scheduled, hence it is at the same time every week.

As for ''what do you expect''... from Argenitna? nothing but rhetoric, propaganda, cruelty and moral disgraces.
Jun 15th, 2009 - 08:55 pm 0

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