MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK warns Argentina on cutting off the air link of Falklands with South America
Foreign Office minister Lord Howell informed the House on the latest events Britain warned Argentina against cutting off an air link to the Falklands as part of an economic blockade of the Islands, reports the Evening Standard. Buenos Aires is threatening to stop a weekly flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to Port Stanley by refusing permission for it to use Argentine airspace.
The Foreign Office warned such a move would be “unjustified and counter-productive”. A spokesman said: “We would strongly condemn any attempt to cut off the Falkland Islands from their Latin American neighbours. We hope Argentina will realise that it's in no one's interests to target an innocent civilian population in this way.”
Tensions between Britain and Argentina are growing this year, the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.
On Thursday it also emerged Spain has complained about the “Argentine harassment” of ships flying the Spanish flag and heading for the Falklands.
Foreign Office minister Lord Howell told Parliament: “Our embassy in Madrid has discussed the Argentine harassment of Spanish-owned vessels in River Plate waters with [Spain].
”These vessels were exercising their right of innocent passage when travelling to/from the Falkland Islands and the port of Montevideo. The Government of Uruguay and Spanish embassy in Montevideo have made statements criticising Argentina.”
UK diplomats fear Argentina, led by president Cristina Fernández is seeking to impose an economic blockade so it becomes too expensive for Britain to hold on to the Falklands.
They believe a squeeze is already being put on Chilean airline LAN, which runs the Falklands link, and it could be forced to end flights if they are banned from Argentine airspace.
But LAN flights also stop once a month in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, which allows relatives of Argentina's 600 war dead to visit the Argentine Memorial cemetery at Darwin in the Islands. Besides over 250 Chilean nationals work in the Falklands and suspending the air link means they would have to return to their homeland via the military air bridge with UK at RAF Brize Norton.
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Feb 03rd, 2012 - 06:39 am 0On the one hand, the UK can unilaterally begin exploration and potential exploitation of sea-bed resources around the Malvinas because they currently have possession of the islands. Meanwhile, Argentina has to accept that because it cannot do anything about it.
On the other hand, Argentina is a sovereign nation with jurisdiction over its territory but it is compelled (or should) allow aircraft to overfly its sovereign airspace to get to the Malvinas, a territory which Argentina claims as its own? WTF gives?
Seriously *roll eyes*.
The colonist of Malvinas want to use Argentine airspace while they at the same time despise and vituperate actively against Argentina. Besides, surely they can build their own airport given they are so proudly wealthy.
I mean they should be both consistent and coherent with whichever outcome develops from their strongly held principles. Therefore, if Argentina is 'this' or 'that' well, then carry on without them and don't rely on them for anything.
You can't have your cake and eat it. Put your money where your mouth is and act accordingly.
Besides, if the colonist of Malvinas had any pride, they would utterly reject using Argentina (e.g. airspace) for anything.
The noose tightens and davidito will play to the little englanders and huff and puff and send hague to Bogota and do nothing because he can do nothing
Feb 03rd, 2012 - 07:54 am 0Looks like the dead argies families will have to swim over.. Oh well but look on the bright side ..St Helena gets an airport and the Falkjlands get a new shipping port.. One door shuts as they say
Feb 03rd, 2012 - 08:12 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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