MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK to Cristina: “no Falklands’ sovereignty negotiations unless and until the Islanders so wish”

The Falkland Islands flag flying at the Foreign Office (Photo: EPA)

“There can be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until such time as the Islanders so wish” was the official reply from the UK to remarks made by Argentine president Cristina Fernandez during her speech on Tuesday before the UN General Assembly.

Furthermore the Foreign Office laments Argentina’s repeated attempts to ignore the Falklands’ right to self determination and recalls that a referendum to be held by the Falkland Islands Government in 2013 will make the Islanders' wishes clear to the international community

The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The UK Government attaches great importance to the principle of self determination as set out in Article 1.2 of the Charter of the United Nations and Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That principle underlies our position on the Falkland Islands. There can be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until such time as the islanders so wish. The UK's relationship with all its overseas territories is a modern one based on partnership, shared values and the right of the people of each Territory to determine its own future.

The democratically elected representatives of the Falkland Islands once again expressed their own views clearly when they visited the United Nations for this year's debate in the Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation. They asked the Committee and all its member states to respect the principle of self-determination, which is a universal human right, and the Falkland Islanders' legal entitlement to exercise their right. They reiterated the historical facts that the Falkland Islands had no indigenous people and that no civilian population was expelled prior to their ancestors settling on the Islands. They confirmed that the Falklands Islands has been peacefully settled for over a century and half by their ancestors and others from many parts of the world, and that they have no desire other than to be left to live in peace. They lamented the Republic of Argentina's attempts to ignore their right of self-determination under the UN Charter. The representatives also expressed their disappointment after the President of Argentina refused to accept an invitation from them inviting the Argentine Government to meet and listen to the views of the Falkland Islands people.

The UK continues to believe that there are many opportunities for co-operation in the South Atlantic. However, in recent years Argentina has rejected these opportunities. It withdrew from co-operation on the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission, and in 2007 repudiated the 1995 Joint Declaration on Cooperation over Offshore Activities in the South West Atlantic. Argentina placed a ban on charter flights travelling to the Islands in 2003. It has also introduced domestic legislation to restrict shipping to the Islands and penalise companies who wish to do business in or with the Falkland Islands.

The UK has maintained an unchanged defensive military posture in the South Atlantic for thirty years. This includes routine military exercises. The UK remains fully committed to defending the rights of the people of the Falkland Islands to determine their own political, social and economic future. A referendum to be held by the Falkland Islands Government in 2013 will make the Islanders' wishes clear to the international community.