MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Nobel Peace laureates should visit Falklands before reaching any conclusion

“We would hope you consider the rights of the Falkland Islanders as paramount in this issue”, said MLA Halford

The Falkland Islands expressed disappointment with six Nobel Prize winners who urged the UK government to open sovereignty negotiations with Argentina over the Islands but seem to by pass the right of Islanders to self determination.

“As people who have won the Peace Prize for their work championing human rights, we would hope that they would consider the rights of the Falkland Islanders as paramount in this issue”, said the official release from the Falklands’ elected Legislative Assembly.

Furthermore the release, signed by MLA Sharon Halford stated that as Falkland Islanders “we have no doubt as to our right to self-determination, and our sovereignty is not a matter that is up for discussion”.

“We will be writing to each of the authors of the letter, explaining some of the issues that may have been overlooked or misunderstood, and encouraging them, as with all others, to come and visit us before reaching any conclusions”, concluded the brief statement.

On Tuesday the six Nobel addressed a letter to UK Primer Minister David Cameron calling for the British government to revise its policies and resume Falklands/Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands’ sovereignty negotiations with Argentina in compliance with international resolutions.

“We therefore request that you review the British government’s position of refusing to dialogue on this matter, and that your government comply with United Nations Resolutions calling for the initiation of talks with the Republic of Argentina”.

The letter was signed by Argentine artist and 1980 Nobel Peace Prize for his protests against the military dictatorship, Adolfo Perez Esquivel and five other laureates: Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala (19912), Mairead Maguire of Ireland (1976), South African Desmond Tutu (1984), US national Jody Williams (1997) and Iran's Shirin Ebadi (2003).

The Falkland Islands government release is as follows:

“We were very disappointed to see news of 6 Nobel Peace Prize winners urging the UK Government to open negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. As Falkland Islanders, we have no doubt as to our right to self-determination, and our sovereignty is not a matter that is up for discussion.

As people who have won the Peace Prize for their work championing human rights, we would hope that they would consider the rights of the Falkland Islanders as paramount in this issue.

We will be writing to each of the authors of the letter, explaining some of the issues that may have been overlooked or misunderstood, and encouraging them, as with all others, to come and visit us before reaching any conclusions.

Signed by Hon Sharon Halford, Member of the Legislative Assembly