MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

PM Brown reaffirms Falklands’ sovereignty and support for oil development

PM Brown: I met twice with President Cristina Kirchner in 2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his New Year message reaffirmed UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and “the principle of self determination that underlies it”, emphasizing there will be “no negotiations (with Argentina) on the Islands sovereignty unless and until such a time as the Islanders wish”.

But Brown also praised Argentina, “a fellow G-20 member and important partner in efforts to address global concerns” for which “we will continue to pursue a strong bilateral agenda with Argentina”.

The message reviews events of 2009 such as the new Falklands’ constitution and the November elections “when an unprecedented and high voter turn-out resulted in a totally new Legislative Assembly”.

Brown said he was particularly pleased with the success of the Argentine next of kin visits to the Falklands last October: “visitors were full of praise and gratitude for the welcome they received and for the sensitivity in which these humanitarian visits were handled”

The British Government continued support to the development of the Falklands’ hydrocarbons sector was also reaffirmed by the Prime Minister although praising the cautious approach since there are no guarantees that commercially viable reserves will be found and it is right therefore “not to factor any revenues in the economic planning”.

Follows the full text of the message:

2009 has been another year of significant change for the Falkland Islands.

Your democracy was further strengthened by your new constitution, and by the elections which took place in November when an impressively high voter turn-out resulted in an all-new Legislative Assembly. I wish the new Assembly Members well for their terms in office.

2009 also brought economic change and challenge for all of us. Nowhere has been immune. I know that this has been a difficult year for the Falklands’ economy. Reduced fish catches have lead to a budget deficit. Such change demands a response and I welcome the work you are doing to develop a strategy to put the Falklands’ economy on to a more diverse and sustainable footing.

Early 2010 will see the arrival in Falklands’ waters of a drilling rig to continue hydrocarbons exploration. The British Government will continue to support the development of your hydrocarbons sector. But there is, of course, no guarantee that commercially viable reserves will be found and should there be any, extraction will be some years away. You are right, therefore, not to factor any revenues into your economic planning but the opportunities and risks, make careful preparations vital for this important work. The British Government will continue to work with you on this great agenda.

Argentine visitors have been able to visit the Falkland Islands throughout the year but I was particularly pleased that the visits of the Next of Kin of those who died in the Falklands’ conflict went so well this October. I know that planning these visits was very difficult for a number of reasons but the visitors were full of praise and gratitude for the welcome they received and for the sensitivity in which these humanitarian visits were handled. The Next of Kin were able to pay their respects with dignity. And I should like to thank everyone involved for the hard work that went into ensuring that the visits were a success.

We will, of course, continue to encourage Argentina to co-operate on issues of mutual interest in the South Atlantic. Fisheries conservation is just one example where their co-operation would benefit all. We will also continue to pursue a strong, bilateral agenda with Argentina – a fellow G-20 member and important partner in efforts to address global concerns, such as the economic down-turn and, important, too, in addressing climate change. I met President Kirchner twice in 2009 to discuss such issues.

But as always in our discussions I made it clear that we have no doubts about United Kingdom’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and that the principle of self determination underlies this. There can be and there will be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Islands unless and until such time as you wish.

Your new Legislative Assembly will face further challenges in the year to come but I am sure that your community spirit, resilience and strong democratic foundation will help you face these challenges and I wish all in the Falkland Islands a Happy Christmas and good health and good fortune for 2010.