MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands: Argentina and UK clash at UN: no talks without the accord of Islanders
Argentina's Foreign minister Hector Timerman together with Latam representatives called on UN chief Ban Ki Moon and demanded talks with the UK on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty, but Britain again refused, pointing to the Islanders' overwhelming vote this month to remain British. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesWhat clash? I thought Mr Lyall Grants response was dignified and to the point.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 08:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0The referendum showed that the islanders are Brits. Surely a Brit can represent Brits. Let the islanders talk with Argentines from, dunno... Chubut?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 08:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0Falkland islanders 5 : Shylock & fellow Latin american chauvinists -12
Mar 27th, 2013 - 08:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0He should just stick to usury like his pals in NYC.
And so the Malvinas dreams again hits the buffers, Tamborineman and his thugs walk away empty handed distraught that Mr Ban adhered to the law and the limits of the UN. Tamborineman thus went back to Argentina empty handed with his 'within 20 years' vision left in tatters. The Black Widow greets him, holding a list of past attempts at circumventing the law: War, constitution amendment, embargos, dirty olympic adverts, insults, C24 180 degree u-turn, a word with the Pope, a word with Mr Ban and the support of the former Mr Madonna, late Hugo Chavez, the 'rock solid' (ha) support of neighbours. “hmm, nevermind Timbo” says Hypocristina, “how about we try War again, our policies are still shit and we need to hide the bad news?”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0The key take-away comment came from Timmerman
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0“How long after a military invasion can a territory become part of the invader?”
This is funny, hypocritical and the crux of the matter.
1) Argentina itself is a product of military invasion and became “self-determining” after 250 years.
2) Patagonia is a product of a military genocidal invasion and became part of Argentina “overnight”
3) the Falklands are not a product of a military invasion as they were uninhabitted in 1670 and have only twice had military invasions in 1832 (by the UP) and 1982 (by Argentina)
Gobsmacking hypocrisy from Gollum...but fun to watch.
These Argentine politicians are utterly shameful and a complete embarrassment to the decent people of Argentina.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0The lies, publicity stunts and shameful behavior (including outright theft) they've exhibited over the past few years in particular has turned Argentina into the laughing stock of the world.
It's going to take Argentina a long time to rebuild its reputation after this lot leave office.
Speaking of the whole world, I'm sure they'd be much happier if Argentina had the Falklands as a military base “with high offensive technology close to the Antarctic and close to the only natural waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific.”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0Another nail in the Hector Timerman coffin of failures.Surely he will get sacked by the Whore of Babylon at some point. Uruguay and Chile are about to dump their solidarity with the pink palace soon as they are fed up with the embarrasment of trying to push water uphill.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0Just waiting for Think and Marcos to come on and say how well Arg is doing and all these nails going in!
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting small change of wording in the Official UN Statement to “if the parties are willing to engagae”.
Not “both sides” and more - ie could easily be 2 or 3 parties and “if” etc.
Uruguay - well one has to understand there is a price they have to pay to have their port entrances dredged- simple as that.
Meanwhile business as normal between us.
So, for orthodoxy-champion Hector 'Rothschild' Goldtrimmermanberg it is bad to bear false witness but perfectly acceptable to be a shameless liar declaring his dreams of ethnic cleansing over the Gentiles?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Is he just upset because God's chosen people are really the British?
Forget the politics , let's look at practicalities .Argentina , the dog with no teeth , cannot even supply it's starving personnel in an Antarctic research station , yet claims the right to colonize a thriving , successful , self sufficient economy on the Falkland islands .
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.clarin.com/politica/Puricelli-demoras-abastecimiento-campana-antartica_0_890311016.html
The Brit govt ought to bring this up at the UN .
“How long after a military invasion can a territory become part of the invader?”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:35 am - Link - Report abuse 01553: Spain began its military invasion of modern day Argentina
1816: Argentina Declaration of Independence
1884: Finak expansion to current borders.
So according to official Argentine policy you can declare independence 263 after your first invasion and land is considered irreversibly colonised after 129 years.
So the UK's first settlement was in 1766 which is 247 years.
And the current settlement has colonised the islands for 180 years.
Therefore the Islands should be considered irreversibly by Aegentine standards. And in 16 years the Iskands can declare independence using Argentina as a precedent for Europena settlement in this part of the world.
Really wish Argentina would stop making the case for the Islands. ROFL
if the parties are willing to engage
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0That is the key phrase...
basically it says up yours CFK
don't let the door hit you in the a**
Shapirotrimmermanstein doesn't seem to understand the purpose of the UN. Banksy moon is not some kind of world president, he's just the head of a multilateral discussion forum, a bit like the MD of mumsnet.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0It would be better if he just set up a cash-for-gold company like his friends.
Argentina the land that keeps on giving ....LOL! What a comedy? And he comes back worse off than when he went (see #13). The Timerman, his government and the country are a diplomatic disaster area with skills just about equating to those of a squid. They just seem to love getting humiliated? 1833 - sent home, 1982 - sent home squealing, London 2013 - sent home empty handed and frustrated at being made to look a laughing stock, and now 2013 UN/NYC - sent home empty handed and worse off yet again!
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hector returns from NYC Macys expedition and gets an ear bashing from a frog faced woman... sounds familiar?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_tVxvnEJko
Argentina should be charged with “Crimes Against Humanity” for allowing Tinman out of Argentina. Ban certainly does not seem to agree with them. If it is a sovereignty issue, why take it to the decol committee? Territorial integrity? Does that mean Hawaii and Alaska are at risk? And how many other island countries off Africa and Asia? The Brits need to find a way to shut these tulips up once and for all. They are like la cucarachas.....can never turn off the lights
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0@10 Shed-time
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0British are the chosen people....more likely though, if God had a choice, God would want to be british.
@13 yankeeboy
Sure as damn it, hits nail on the head.
@5 MonkeyMagic & @12 Anglotino
“How long after a military invasion....” I want to find where he said this, it's a fantastic foot in mouth comment! but for the moment, the answer is... two fold:
1. Britain did not invade,
2. the whole matter was closed 17 years after 1833, in the Treaty of Settlement., so in this case , the period timidman is looking for is 17 years.
And back to the practicalities .....
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0From yesterdays New York Times ” Argentina pulled out of a fisheries management organization it had shared with Falklands in 2005. “Unfortunately the Argentine government doesn’t have the naval capacity to continually control this area.”
The Falklands are defended by British warships, planes and submarines, giving the fisheries agency considerable muscle to enforce licenses in its waters. But Argentina’s navy has never recovered from its 1982 war against Britain for the islands, and its coast guard has just eight ships to cover more than 1 million square miles (2,800,000 square kilometers) of ocean, said its chief of maritime traffic, Mario Farinon.
well judging from the lack of any bluster & bullshit from the Argentine Government representatives it looks like Ban ki moon said exactly what he has said before and the entire Latam party left with a flea in their ear.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0As expected.
This Argentine Government sure do like to clock up some useless air-miles.
No wonder they are going bankrupt.
Hilarious Hector never fails to amuse.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why doesnt the Ambassador say it as it is, start ridiculing their economy out in the open Tell the world what their inflation figures are, tell the world their money isnt safe in Argentina, tell the world you cannot buy foreign currency in Argentina, Tell the world what the real exchange rate is between the Dollar & the Peso tell the world how much CFK has spent on Plastic Surgery that went wrong! Tell the world about how Argentina is protectionist against even the Latam countries, get it out in the open, embarrass them at every opportunity ask the question why would anyone chose to be ruled by Argentina?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0Actually, the United Nations does little credit to itself by entertaining the posturing and strutting of regional bullies such as timmermann. The message to argentina should be plain and simple: GTFOOH ! and grow up. Ditto as well for TMBOA. Argentina is recognised by intelligent observers world-wide as being bankrupted spiritually, financially, morally, militarily and living in some sort of 1930's fascist universe where it seems OK to lie and misrepresent, threaten, torture and steal. And to ignore truth. They seem to have no shame.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have been noticing a very subtle change in what Timerman has been saying recently. Instead of “world support” for Argentina's claim, it has changed to “regional support” and instead of UN Resolutions it is now “UN Decolonization Committee” resolutions. Quite a significant difference in meaning, but a very subtle difference in terms of words.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0They are losing the war and getting more and more desperate. They bring their buddies to this meeting. They claim Britain presence in the Falklands is “military invasion”, quite ironic considering it was an Argentine invasion that caused Britain's current defensive presence.
And Grant is quite correct in mentioning that during these talks, Timerman and his boys club barely mention the Islanders. It is truly unspeakable and despicable for a (so-called) modern democracy to ignore the wishes of people in the 21st Century. Everything Argentina accuses Britain of doing in the past is what Argentina is trying to do now with the Falklands, and the Argentines cannot see it. They are blind to it. #Indoctrination.
Has Trimmerman ever spoken a truth?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think we should be told.
23. Yeah next it will be some of MercoSur support us. Their world is getting smaller and smaller.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0It looks like the isolation that some of the dumber Rg posters have been wishing for is happening quicker than they probably wanted.
CFK is blowing through the BCRA reserves like it is crack. The LNG bills are going to be coming in quicker than the tax revenue from the latest crop, they will have a serious cash flow shortage very very soon.
Timerman also denounced Britain's “military invasion” of the Falklands but said Argentina wants a peaceful settlement.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0#### off.
@26 After causing a war, they basically now want all the benefits of winning a war, after losing a war.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0They're functionally imbeciles and should be treated as such. Just pat him on his bald head and tell him to go play in the soft-play ball pool.
“ He pointed out the defence presence in the Falklands has not changed substantially in the last 30 years since the end of the Argentine invasion in 1982.”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not entirely true, there has been a substantial reduction in military personnel over the last 30 years.
As an Uruguayan I am ashamed of my government's recent actions regarding the Falklands and I apologise to the Islanders. In yesterday's national daily El País, readers' comments were 19 against the government's actions, and one in favour, so evidently I am not alone.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sgt Major Browns comment from an ungentmanly act springs to mind.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@28 Well in 1982 there were a task force of 28'000 british troops and 12'000 argentine troops on the islands. Rough summation shows that to be about 40'000 troops. In 2013 there are about 1500 troops on the islands. That's a difference of 38'500 troops in 30 years... Are his mathematical skills terrible or what?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@29 You are right, it's quite embarrassing for Uruguay. Seemingly you get rewarded with a punch in the face, or some more tariffs. Well done you.
Musky
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://webtv.un.org/watch/the-falkland-islands-malvinas-ministers-of-foreign-affairs-of-argentina-cuba-uruguay-and-vice-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-peru-press-conference/2255474326001/
In his answer to the question from Reuters....
Excellent work everyone Timerman and American. All together fighting for peace and dialogue against violence and terrorism. One cause of the global and Latin American homeland against racism, imperialism and colonialism in the 21st century English. Increasingly the world public opinion is in favor of Argentina. The world no longer accepts being deceived by Britain.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Further evidence of the futility of the referendum illegal.
The Chancellor with the Presidents pro tempore of regional blocs presented to the Committee on Decolonization and met with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. He questioned the British refusal to negotiate and rejected the “illegitimate” kelper referendum.
See the following link:
http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-216713-2013-03-27.html
@33 Raul, the guy tells lies. So you just quoted some of his lies, like a lie-parrot.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“”if you see the 40 UN resolutions” < there are no 40 resolutions. LIES.
End of.
Raul
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It would appear not, the worlds press were far more interested in asking about Argentinas deal with Iran, and the only Falklands related question identified the rank hypocrisy of the entire Argentine position by pointing out that the islanders had been on the Falklands longer than the Timmermans in Argentina.
More so, the islanders gained their country by colonising an uninhabitted set of islands, whereas Argentina committed GENOCIDE (slaughtering 10,000s of innocent indigenous people) to STEAL theirs.
Only Latino third world sycophants cannot see this RANK hypocrisy.
I watched to complete press conference. Apart from the usual spoutings - he made some big blunders:
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Britain invaded Argentina in 1806 and 1807 - we all know that Argentina did not exist at this time, and britain was at war with French controlled Spain (and indeed helped the Spanish get their land back during the peninsular war and kick out the French puppet king - the estate of the Duke of Wellington isn't one of the biggest land owners in Andalucia for nothing)
2. Jack Straw was continually referred to as the British “Prime Minister” over his comments on the Gibraltar referendum.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2152265.stm
Laughable.
Ban blew smoke up tinman's ass and tinman just smiled.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I just read the people of the Falkland's are in for a mind boogling windfall.......10,000,000,000 in taxes and royalties over 25 years, Equates to 160,000 per person. Can I immigrate from the US? lol
Good for you Falklander's. Keep an eye to the west.
#33
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0THERE ARE NONE SO DEAF AS THEY WHO DO NOT WISH TO HEAR -sums up Argentina to a T.
Hypocricy of the most blatant kind. The UN must be as bored and fed up with them as the Falkland Islanders. Tinman keeps up his whine about the referendum being ilegal yet he does not make any clear explaination as to 'what' was ilegal about it other than making some daft hypocritical comparisons. The Falklands are British, yes, British, now stop this nonsense and crawl back under your rocks you are driving me crazy with this constant drip drip of rubbish and laughable 'so called' diplomacy.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@33 well if you believe that your stupider than I thought
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0PS no one except a priviliged few know where our nuclear submarines are and what they are armed with. The crews of the Bombers don't even know till they are at sea so as they can't let it slip when ashore pissed. TINMAN certainly doesn't and never will
Returning to my Mumsnet example for a moment, for a bit of parallel thinking...
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Timmerman (as Argentina) is the equivalent of some psycho demanding that a mother on a mothering website hands over her child, simply because the psycho thinks she owns it. Then the psycho gets her equally weird online forum friends to say that she owns the baby because she stole it from her once in 1982, much to the child's distress. Then the psycho is demanding the website owner uses her good offices to force the true mother into handing over the child because her psycho version of history says the child is hers even when she never gave birth to it. It is simply a delusion and the psycho should be locked up.
It's this level of psychoticism we're looking at but at a regional scale. Kind of frightening.
Best case scenario is that the status remains quo. Imagine, just say imagine if Mr Ki- Moon would (he cannot but just lets say he would) decide RG should just drop its claims and look after its own problems. What would THEN happen? Surely they would not sit back in the looser corner and sulk a bit? Perhaps we are all better off just as it is? Any visions on that scenario?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I forgotthe link:
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-27/falkland-oil-claimed-by-argentina-sees-islanders-join-1-energy.html?cmpid=yhoo
@27
Mar 27th, 2013 - 01:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just pat him on his bald head and tell him to go play in the soft-play ball pool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVYsmpcbvk
Just watched this video on George Galloway. Not on the Falklands, but I can see now why he backs Herr Timmerman. They have similar ideas about how to deal with people that disagree with them. Utter scumbag:
Mar 27th, 2013 - 02:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzIXdQiaRBc
Timerman acting like the spoiled kid he is. He needs to remember that Britain did not invade the Islands but came and removed a dictator that did. Why does he continually say that Britain is militarising the zone when He knows that if the military pressence were removed he and his lot would walk straight in.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The whole argument he puts is an international joke yet he continues to keep doing it.
@31 Really? According to research, the first British unit was 3 Commando Brigade. That would be about 1,800 men. Call it 2,000 at most. Then there was the 5th Infantry Brigade. Research says that “would arrive to bring total land forces strength to approximately 10,000 men.” So that's it. Around 10,000 men. At the time of the argie invasion, they took 60,000 troops plus 6,000 marines. The “occupation force” was over 10,000. http://www.naval-history.net/NAVAL1982FALKLANDS.htm Where do you get your figures? Where did the additional 18,000 British troops come from?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 02:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@33 You are hilarious. “All together fighting for peace and dialogue against violence and terrorism.” You seem to be getting some sort of sense of humour. Who invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982? Argieland. Wasn't that violence? Currently, argieland is trying, and failing, to impede the Falklands economy. Isn't that terrorism? Especially as the argie “method” is to threaten other people. You'll have to explain how a referendum conducted on the Falkland Islands by the Falkland Islands Government could be “illegal”. Especially with reputable international observers present. Incidentally, you should look up the zone of application of the Treaty of Tlatelolco. http://www.naval-history.net/NAVAL1982FALKLANDS.htm See, it doesn't cover the whole of the South Atlantic. We can go around. Good for us, eh? And don't bother listing your silly little non-binding resolutions again. Wipe your ass with them! Here's some TRUTH. The Falkland Islands are BRITISH. When they stop being BRITISH, it will because they will be the INDEPENDENT Falkland Islands. And you can creep and cry, whinge and whine as much as you like. That won't change. Britain, on its own, can defeat the whole of South America. Because we have, and are, the best. The USA copies and learns from US. And if you send little “missions” to the Falklands occasionally, you could learn how to be “people”.
Illegal = Prohibited by law. Could one of the Malvinistas please provide me with a link showing what law has been broken because I can't find one.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 02:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well that's it for now. Falkland Islanders had their successful referendum. Rgs have been rebuffed at the UN with no support from Ban Ki Moon or anyone of any significance apart from the motley lunatics of the peanut brigade.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 02:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Rgs will no doubt contine to whine, plead and whinge ad infinitum.
April 2nd will no doubt be celebrated as usual, despite the Rg population having nothing whatsoever to do with the junta. Rg youth will no doubt be exercising their thumbs on the silly computer game, an echo of the Great escape, Braveheart etc where history gets trashed by nationalism.
It's hard to see what their next move will be. Despite having lost the means to pursue their aggression, they have pursued an aggreesive diplomatic path that ultimately failed miserably. Perhaps financial collapse will be accompanied by political chaos sooner than later. Back to 33 revolutions per minute in the near future?
@47 My sauce was http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/nn2page1.stm . If it's not correct then I wouldn't be surprised, It's the equivalent of me saucing from the newsround or swap-shop website.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Awhile back some stupid RG laughed and made fun of my post saying Argentina was a Bolivarian Socialist...it seems I am in good company.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Widowed Again: Who Will Argentina's President Follow After Chavez?
Bolivarian minds think alike, and Kirchner has copied many of Venezuela's policies for her own country.
Now that the initial shock is over, Argentines are left wondering what is next. With three years left in office, it is likely that Kirchner will just let the policies already in place take their course: let inflation grow, insecurity rise, and the middle class shrink. Yet, another path is also possible: a more radical one in which she changes the constitution to allow her to run for a third term. President for life? Nothing more Bolivarian than that.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/03/widowed-again-who-will-argentinas-president-follow-after-chavez/274393/#disqus_thread
It would not surprise me if CFK changed their constitution and be elected again. It would prove two things though. Either the Argentine people are thicker than I thought or that they actually believe in her mad ways.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 052 kelperabout (#)
Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:32 pm
If, by some ghastly error, CFK does manage to change the Constitution and run for election in 2015, about 45% of the Argentine population will become political refugees!!!!!!!!!
I doubt she'll make it to the end of her “legitimate” term.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0LNG will be very scarce this year, expect MAJOR blackouts and very OFTEN it will be much much worse than last year.
So let me get this straight. Argentina said that this is a bilateral issue between Argentina and the UK. So have they changed their minds and decided it is now a quintelateral (brand new word alert!) issue between Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Peru and the UK? Is he just scared and wanted some mates to egg him on? I wonder if BKM wondered the same thing? I'll bet he did you know.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Hang on a moment, you can bring all of your gang but the UK cannot even bring along the people this directly affects? And you have pinned your own rules to the flag of any possible dialogue that would effectively have the UK and the FI with their hands tied behind their backs? Fair enough, bring it on. You'll still get your arses handed to you, politically, economically and militarily because you are basically shite”.
@55 as long as the Islanders aren't involved it seems to be the more the merrier as long as they agree with AR. Once one or two people from the Islands enter the room (no matter what the occupancy capacity) it suddenly becomes too crowded and they get all claustrophobic and have to dash out for air. Tender little lambs.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The problem is that the Argentine Gvt. is carrying its countrymen to an economic clift where they don´t now how to solve it.....
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, the best way to distract the crowd is choosing a nationalist point to get together the public opinion while the people is falling in the poorest condition they can have....without they note it.
So, to summarize: Timmerman did a last-gasp visit to the UN to try to drum up some support for his governments attempts to steal the Falklands Islands..and failed to get anything whatsoever.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not even the smallest concession that he could “big up” , nothing nada, zip, diddly, squat, zilcho.
Well, that was a surprise wasnt it?
The Argentine politicians seem ever more desperate to get some credence to their Falklands claims but everybody from the Pope to the UN is turning them away with nothing of any significance whatsoever.
Maybe they will finally realise that the Fat lady sang on this last year..or, indeed, she did an encore of her 1850s top-10 smash hit “Perfect Settlement”.
#57 Sergio, that's exactly what all the Falklanders and Brits think too. We have concluded that many Argentinean are brainwashed on this subject. Where are you from?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Singer Piling Up Legal Victories Sinks Bonds: Argentina Credit
Mar 27th, 2013 - 04:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina’s dollar bonds are extending the steepest losses in emerging markets after a U.S. appeals court rejected a request to rehear a case against holders of defaulted debt, increasing the likelihood the government will lose the battle.
The government’s $3 billion of bonds due 2033 that were issued in the country’s 2005 debt restructuring fell 1.9 cent to 54.07 cents on the dollar yesterday, the lowest since Nov. 28. The cost to protect Argentina against non-payment over the next five years with credit-default swaps surged 197 basis points, or 1.97 percentage points, the most in the world, to 3,129 basis points, according to CMA Ltd.
Do I hear a fat lady singing?
@2 - “The referendum showed that the islanders are Brits. Surely a Brit can represent Brits. Let the islanders talk with Argentines ...”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 05:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Actually that is not a bad idea, the London government could appoint an Islander as it's representative in this matter. Then the Argies could pretend to talk to only the British Government despite the fellow on te other side of the table being an Islander.
Timerman may not admit it, but he owes the 1982 British Task Force a lot. He was a political refugee from the Galtieri junta and only returned home when Argentina returned to democratic rule.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thirty years ago SA was full of unpleasant military dictatorships headed by puffed up generals wearing adsurd uniforms encrusted with medals for bashing up the locals or remaining indigenous peoples.
Now look at those diplomats accompanying Timerman to the UN. They may have spoken rubbish, but didn't they look like smart, professional, first world diplomats?
Why?
Because the 1982 Task Force showed the Junta Culture how pathetic they were and inflicted a regional humiliation, thereby making countries across SA raise their game.
Of course, they've still got a long way to go.
But frankly all of SA should thank the 1982 British Task Force, or would that require too much in the way of admissions?
62 Mortiboy
Mar 27th, 2013 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“or would that require too much in the way of admissions?”
No, but it would require humility, something that the argies do not have.
Thankyou Mr Moon, but the UK is not for talking about this issue. Now perhaps you may want to do something about the more trivial issues of North Korea, Syria or Iran?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 05:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@60, yes but what is the song? “Don't cry for me Paul E Singer”?
Mar 27th, 2013 - 06:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Looking forward to Friday, or as it will be henceforth known “Not one Dollar Friday”.
Including videos...
Mar 27th, 2013 - 06:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'Argentinian FM appeals to UN to act against Britain over Falklands
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman denounced Britain's rejection of United Nations resolutions calling for negotiations on sovereignty and implored the UN to act...'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9956861/Argentinian-FM-appeals-to-UN-to-act-against-Britain-over-Falklands.html
“The question is to whom do these islands belong?”
Mar 27th, 2013 - 06:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Which can be easily countered by ”The question is to whom does Argentina belong?”
The indigenous population you Spanish usurpers, so pack your bags and go back to Europe.
Your rules, you make them, you follow them.
@67
Mar 27th, 2013 - 06:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Exactly right.
Britain was one of the first countries to recognise an Independent Argentina, despite the following FACTS:
1) the land was stolen by usurping Spanish pirates
2) the land had be gained by military conquest
3) the land was a result of colonialism
Why....because self-determination trumps all...Hector, even in Argentina.
Even today we in Britain recognise the 1880 boundaries of Argentina when Patagonia was added as part of the Genocide of the desert, despite
1) the land was stolen by usurping Argentine pirates
2) the land had be gained by military conquest
3) the land was a result of colonialism
Why? because self-determination trumps even 19th century genocide.
So, even though Hector Timmerman is lying through his ghastly yellow teeth when he claims:
1) the land was stolen (no it wasn't...Britain evicted the murdering raping thieves)
2) the land was gained through military conquest..(no it wasn't, it was empty when Britain landed in 1690)
3) the land is a result of colonialism...not really, as it was empty.
But even if it were (which it isn't), Self determination trumps all.
Sorry Hector...the islands are whatever the islands want them to be...LOL...
However Gollum...have fun coming back again and again...what the UN message though, seems to be changing slightly...LOL.
I recommend everyone reads the article below, kind of explains the new RG tactics...
Mar 27th, 2013 - 07:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0''Falklands: the referendum must reconsider policies ~ The Malvinas referendum may well mean a new step whose slow global legitimacy would be detrimental to the country.
What happened should lead to a strategic rethink in Argentina. Three pronged approach indispensable to strengthen the argument of sovereignty. First, place the Malvinas issue in a broader framework incorporating issues such as the future of the South Atlantic and Antarctica and arguing that policy proposals genuine conceptual and material resources.
Second, seek convergence of interests tangible Latin American countries, with the United States and countries outside the region with respect to the derivations of vulnerability and instability of sprawl and distorting the principle of self-determination.
Third, strengthen the country's diplomatic argument distinguishing the fundamental difference between dialogue and negotiation and assuming that the referendum opens a space to better treat the islanders as subjects, while creating conditions to agree bilaterally with Britain....'
http://www.clarin.com/politica/Cristina-desembarco-Malvinas-Puerto-Madryn_0_890311140.html
'Falkland Oil Claimed by Argentina Sees Islanders Join 1%: Energy - The Falklands’ first commercial oil discovery will make the islands in the South Atlantic rich, bringing the British territory of 2,563 people $10.5 billion in tax revenue over 25 years...'
http://www.clarin.com/politica/Cristina-desembarco-Malvinas-Puerto-Madryn_0_890311140.html
'Cristina remember the landing in the Falklands from Puerto Madryn'
http://www.clarin.com/politica/Cristina-desembarco-Malvinas-Puerto-Madryn_0_890311140.html
Sometimes one has to admire there sheer desperation and tactics,
Mar 27th, 2013 - 08:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No matter how much you Argies defend them, no matter how much of a good job you all think tin man has done,
You have in fact, come away with nothing, AGAIN,
No matter who you have talked to in 2013, you have been rebuffed, turned down, and humiliated,
Again and again, you make your selves look silly on the international stage,
Yet you bloggers still defend a fantastic job that achieved precisely nothing,
So what exactly have you to be proud of,
Your government is wasting millions and millions of your dollars on this stupid folly,
And yet still they have learned nothing,
[ Falklands ]
They are not yours,
Never were, never will be,
But hey, it’s only YOUR money they are wasting,
And when she finally goes, with your money in her bank,
You will still have to live with her legacy,
Enjoy your failed future,
..
.
I believe the continual failure to gain any ground will work in favour of the islanders and ultimately will help argentines wash out the malvinas myth from their system. Day by day, defeat after defeat, it'll wear them down and this is good because the malvinas myth is a blind faith thing, very very stupid.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 053 Simon68 You are being conservatist. more than likely 80% will suffer even though a slice of that lot would have voted her in. They simply fail to see just what she is doing to them. So glad I was born a Falkland Islander under a British flag.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@69 Steve-33-uk:
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting first article. So:
1) Argentina seems to think that the world would see them as good gatekeepers to the pacific and custodians of a huge chunk of the south pole.
Pure Argentinian fantasy: The world would not trust them with the contents of a piggy bank.
2) The 'instability of sprawl and distorting the principle of self-determination', only occurs if countries DON'T back the Falklanders rights.
Favouring some sort of historic claim (even if it was a real one and not the Argentinian fantasy) over the democratic right of current populations would lead to absolute chaos around the world (not least in Argentina). The power of the local militia being the deciding factor as to if a people can be free from subjugation is exactly what the UN is trying to get away from.
3) I was not aware that Argentina had a diplomatic argument.
Is constantly saying 'I want it, so give it to me!' any sort of argument? The mixture of hypocrisy and outright lies that they churn out could not be considered either diplomatic or a case that should need answering over and over again.
@73 They seem to have a new strategy-fail every week. Not sure this one makes any sense either.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 09:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0WEll now lets see if I have got this right.......The hysterical Argies keep “Demanding” bilateral talks between themselvs and the “British”...They insist on calling the Falkland Islanders “British”..Yet refuse to talk to them,indeed refuse to be in the same room as them.What am I missing here..?The Falkland Islanders who the Argies insist are “British” just recently held a referendum on maintaining their historical links to the UK,and in doing so sent a very clear message to the lunatics in Argentina...They want NOTHING to do with a third world facist state bordering on anarchy,and seeing as....according to the Argies the Falklanders who are “British” have spoken....Get it..?When will the Argies quit shooting themselvs in the foot...??
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@73 screenname
Mar 27th, 2013 - 10:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I didn't get the third point either...
But in all seriousness whatever they do will fail, Argentina's claim to the Falkland islanders land and resources is colonial. The Falkland Islanders have the same rights as anyone else.
Timermans meeting with Uncle Ban Ki didn't produce the headlines he needed either, so another fail. The trip was only planned by the RG govt. to soften the blow of the FI referendum. I cannot think of a scenario excluding an invasion in which Argentina get sovereignty. Even if Scotland vote for independence (like some in the RG Govt. are pinning their hopes on) and Britain / the UK breaks up, it will prove that the self-determination is what matters in today's world.
@69
Anyway just realised I pasted the wrong link! correct link is below...
'Falklands: the referendum must reconsider policies'
http://www.clarin.com/opinion/Malvinas-referendum-obliga-repensar-politicas_0_890311043.html
77 comments without Air Commodore Think talking to his alter ego.
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Strange that just yesterday he was talking about nails in coffins, when everyone told him a Timmerman meeting with BKM would be a neutral result at the very best.
I wonder if he is in Cyprus, and has not been able to pay his electricity/internet bills because of the banks? I'm sure Argentina's Government would not fly money out to their troops as the UK did.
@77 not a squeak from other topics either he probably hasn't been paid by campora and is on strike
Mar 27th, 2013 - 11:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Argentines are behaving the same way as the Germans 30 years after the bombing of Dresden.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 12:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0The defeat of the Junta in 1982 was a massive kick in the Latin Hombré pride not only of Argentina but the whole continent of Latin America. It hit them as hard as the defeat of the Spanish Armada hit sixteenth century Spain.
Why do you all think that the other Latin governments sent envoys to the UN with Timerman?
They are not bothered about the Dutch in Surinam or the French in Guyana who launch their satelites for them, But they hate the Brits. It's a Latin versus Anglo-Saxon thing.
Listening to Timerman at his UN press conference wittering on about what happened in the 1830s, and you compare it with everything else that has happened in the World since then, - you just realise what a backwater 'the cone' is. It's pathetic.
For the size of its well-educated population and natural resources, Argentina's economy ought to be bigger, but it isn't because being a population of ill-matched immigrants from absolutely all over, there's no cohesion except over football and, oh, 'the Malvinas.'
BAN KI MOON, UN CHIEF,
Mar 28th, 2013 - 12:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0NOV 2012......regarding Argentinas accusations against UK,
““I don’t think Security Council members are violating relevant UN resolutions.”
BAN KI MOON, UN CHIEF,
NOV 2012......regarding Argentinas rejection to The Falklands Human rights,
“The impression is that people who are living under certain conditions should have access to certain level of capacities so that they can decide on their own future. And that is the AIN CRITERIA of the main UN bodies. Having independence or having some kind of government in THEIR territories. I don’t think it’s an abuse or violation of relevant UN resolutions”
BAN KI MOON, UN CHIEF,
MAR 2013......regarding Argentinas soverignty claim and other dribble,
”reiterated that his good offices to resolve this dispute remain available, if the PARTIES are WILLING to engage.“
Argentina you have been blown out yet again as predicted, more please!!!
”STATUS QUO....SELF-DETERMINATION”,
BAN KI F**KING MOON,UN CHIEF...... I salute you sir......
@78 not, its back to the bunker for fresh instructions
Mar 28th, 2013 - 01:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Watch this space!
82 graciela rodriguez.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 04:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0More RG filth.
I understand that the Falkland Islands, and the Islanders that live there are wonderful community. During the unwanted RG invasion in 1982, the RG troops shitted in baths, rubbed their shit over walls inside private homes, private RG soldiers were abused by their “officers”, argentine troops were begging for food from civilians. Anyone can understand why F.I.s were glad to see the last of the RGs, and don't want a bar of them again.
Just as a matter of conjecture, I wonder what the outcome might be if when Argentina next insists on bilateral negotiations with Great Britain, the Foreign Office sent a team of Brits who so happen to have been born in the Falklands? At the very least, Argentina would have to stop moaning to the UN.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 06:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0“We must continue to insist,” said Timerman. “Of course we would like the secretary general to wear down the other party and not be worn out”.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 08:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hectoring Hector, the perfect diplomat. Fronts up at the UN with a few thuggish mates in tow and expects the Secretary General to drop everything and join his crusade.
They have tried everything to get their way on the Falklands and now they fall back on their usual tactic - bullying. Well that doesnt wash with the Islanders, the UK, the Pope, the Secretary General nor any other sensible leader with a shred of decency.
Argentina's approach to diplomacy is as subtle as an argentine invasion.
THE ISLANDERS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUILD A 5 STAR HOTEL,
Mar 28th, 2013 - 09:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0OR HAVE A DECENT AIRLINE COMPANY
Hang around a bit you cretin and the Islanders will have a lear jet each
The Falklands’ first commercial oil discovery will make the islands in the South Atlantic rich, bringing the British territory of 2,563 people $10.5 billion in tax revenue over 25 years.
The offshore Sea Lion oil discovery may generate government revenues of about $160,000 per person each year when it starts production 2017, according to Edison Investment Research. That’s equivalent to the after-tax income of a top 1 percent earner in Britain, figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies show.
Problem is Argentina has been unable to remove a tiny population by oppression or world support or even war as it has done in it's history and they are angry that 3,000 people are standing in there way of their original plan to take everything in the south Atlantic region.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 09:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0There problem is that 200 years ago the indigenous people of South America had few tools at their disposal to repel the butchers that took their land while now the Islanders have access to a whole new arsenal of defensive tools and the biggest one is the internet. We as a people are being heard by the entire world and Argentina is now struggling to spread any more lies.
Once they had the element of silence to conduct their evil work but now within seconds everything they try to do is countered by the modern electronics of today.
They have now started to realise that they are failing in every area. Political tension mounts within their own Country and even the oppressed Argentines thanks to the internet are being educated just how bad their leaders really are. One day this technology will bring Argentina to its knees because the world is becoming more aware of the nasty people and starting to stand up for what is just.
The Falkland Islands referendum has shown the world that democracy really does have a place and that what a people democratically want the world will listen to them. Argentina is now struggling to forge ahead with its policy of a dictator regime. I am so glad that I am a Falkland islander and part of a new history in democracy.
#82
Mar 28th, 2013 - 10:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0OR HAVE A DECENT AIRLINE COMPANY......
Neither can Argentina !!!!!
Another new name Sussie ?
“Illegal” means contrary to the law. Which law is broken by holding a popular plebicite please Mr Timmerman ?
Mar 28th, 2013 - 10:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina's attempt to colonise the Falkland Islands will not succeed.
@88 GaLlamosa
Mar 28th, 2013 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Very true x 2.
I wish the British government would present a more structured argument to Latin America as to the validity of its historical sovereignty claim over the FI. Right now its seems Argentina has won the argument with S. America without the British ever having presented a counter argument, or outlined the flaws in Argentinian claims to sovereignty.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It might not matter in regards to the outcome for the FI - there isn't a hope in hell of Argentina ever reclaiming the islands; but it might help Britain's relationships with countries in S. America that have been duped into believing Argentine BS.
90 verdane
Mar 28th, 2013 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I believe the British government is choosing exactly the correct position. The self-determination position of the Islanders is legally unassailable. Of her many other legal claims, best to save them for a rainy day. In the meantime. play your cards close to your chest. Allow Argentina to perpetuate as many lies as she wishes. The reason being, if there ever comes a day when the issue is submitted to the ICJ or the PCA. You simply prove all lies to Argentina's detriment.
@50 Yep, I see. The basic problem is the way the BBC uses the word “troops”. What I noticed is that the article said “28,000 troops and over 100 ships”. “Troops” are, by definition, part of an army. In other words, ground forces. You don't have many ships in an army. The majority of vessels in the Task Force were commercial, such as the Atlantic Conveyor, with small crews. However, naval vessels have much larger complements. That of HMS Hermes, for example, was 2,100, whilst that of the oft-sunk HMS Invincible was 1,051. Add in the other 41 Royal Navy vessels and you can see where the other 18,000 personnel might be. The five Type 42 destroyers would have had a total of around 1,500 crew members. And there were four different classes of frigate with various complements. But navy crews aren't “troops” unless they are Marines.
Mar 28th, 2013 - 03:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@67 Wouldn't want them in Europe. How about Siberia?
@90 You need to think that Britain doesn't have to do anything. Let's take some relevant dates. 1690, 1765, 1770/1, 1833, 1850, 1866 and the most important, 1982. A legal principle. Uti possidetis. Territory and other property remains with the possessor at the end of a conflict. The principle was affirmed by the ICJ in the 1986 Case Burkina-Faso v Mali. All argieland's claims fail at that point. Because they started a war and lost it. And who had possession of the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands at the end of the war? Britain. It's why argieland won't agree to go to the ICJ.
Perhaps they are just envious and jealous of everything British,
Mar 28th, 2013 - 07:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We have what they want,
We had, what they will never have
We achieved what they will never achieve,
We are better, and cleverer than they are
We are brighter and more sophisticated than they are,
We are admired and respected, than they are.
No wonder they hate us so much,
Great Britain, probably the best country in the world,
Giggle giggle ..lol
.
One of these days Timmerman will get so confused with his lies and deceptions he will probably lose track & come out and support the Falkland Islanders?
Mar 29th, 2013 - 03:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0Dear Hector,
Mar 29th, 2013 - 03:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0UN resolution 2065 made in 1965 is dead and was killed off by Argentina's illegal invasion of 1982. Asking the UK to honour UN 2065 is like Hitler asking Chamberlain to honour the 1938 Munich agreement in 1939 after he had invaded Poland. Hence Ban Ki-Moon's remarks, 'I don't think Security Council members are violating any 'relevant' UN resolutions.' There is no requirement for the UK government to talk to anyone in Argentina about the sovereignty of the Falklands. Comprende?
BB, that is the most significant statement Ban made on several occassions that the RG and trolls ignore.
Mar 29th, 2013 - 06:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0'I don't think Security Council members are violating any 'relevant' UN resolutions.'
the UK is on the Security Council
No one on the SC is violating and RELEVANT resolutions
Therefore the UK is no in violation of any RELEVANT resolutions
Logic that Argentina cannot grasp. It leads the reasonable thinking person that either;
A-Resolutuion 2065 is irelevant
B-Argentina's claim is irelevant
C-Both A and B
I will go with C. Perhaps they, Tinman does not understand what relevant and irelevant means? Or that
Amazin then
Mar 29th, 2013 - 08:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0that no country seems to point out the resolutions
that Argentina HAS broken.
That's because there is not an index to the encylopedia set of them.
Mar 29th, 2013 - 09:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0ha ha
Mar 29th, 2013 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0very true,
it would take em decades just to scratch the top.
The struggle for the Falkland Islands has been, historically, a contest between Britain and Spain. The government of Buenos Aires did not inject itself into the dispute until 1824 and was therefore, very much a ‘Johnny come lately’ in the dispute.
Mar 30th, 2013 - 05:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0Vernet’s attempts to found a colony on East Falkland failed, largely because foreign vessels would not respect the exclusive rights to cattle and fisheries ‘granted’ to him by the BA Government. This led to him trying to enforce his authority as reputed governor and the intervention of the USS Lexington whose skipper (Captain Duncan) arrested 6 Argentines, destroyed the batteries and armaments and declared the Islands free of government.
No longer convinced of the justice of the BA claim, Vernet resigned as Governor and stated that the BA government had no claim to the Islands.
When In September 1832 the BA government made another attempt to assert its control it became mired in mutiny and order had not been re- established when Captain Onslow RN arrived to re-assert Britain’s rights in the Falklands.
Contary to contemporary Argentine accounts of this event, only the Argentine Commandant and Garrison were removed from the Islands, the settlers remained.
Argentina has, tragically, created a myth which, seemingly, no rational or legal argument can destroy. They spin the story to suite their position.
The President of Argentina claims that the March referendum is illegal and conducted by a bunch of ‘squatters’. Yet, based on their fleeting, non-exclusive occupation of the islands, they would not be able to claim squatter’s rights on a cow pasture let alone sovereignty over the entire Islands.
A previous poster (#90) has suggested that dispute should be taken to an appropriate international tribunal; I think that this proposal has merit. It will not resolve the dispute, but it may set the record straight and scotch some of the spin and propaganda perpetrated by successive Argentine governments.
USA nor UK gives this rights to illegal aliens, why should Argentina give this rights to this british clowns ? Is there a law for the white men and another for natives? Why don't we just pollute their environment and exterminate them like they did to our ancestors? Eradicating the fish would be a good start since that is what brought this pesty people there. UN is just tool for the british to gather all the goats in one barn. Good try fakland holdings now go home to UK and take the pest with you.
Mar 30th, 2013 - 09:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@101
Mar 31st, 2013 - 05:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0You're an odd bollocks aren't you? Everything you right is either hypocritical, made up or complete crap.
@101 Pirat-Hunter
Mar 31st, 2013 - 07:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0Don't you live in Canada?
Are you there legally or illegally?
#101
Mar 31st, 2013 - 09:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Is there a law for the white men and another for natives?
Of course Mr Vargas (Spaniard). Your precious Argentine govt. proved this with their Conquest of the Desert when they tried to wipe out the indigenous Amerindian population.
Wiping out the fish in the seas, now that's the kind of intelligent remark we have come to expect from a dead beat. It would also wipe out the Argentine fishing industry. How would YOU do this as your country (WHICH IS NOT CANADA ) CAN HARDLY FIND A BOAT WHICH CAN FLOAT!
Or will it be one of your invisible nuclear powered stealth submarines?
Which of your “ancestors ”were exterminated on the Falklands?
You are correct when you say that Argentina should expel illegal aliens, after all, that is what Britain did in 1982 to the illegal Argentinian aliens - and also in 1833 !
101
Mar 31st, 2013 - 11:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0in all the harbours and seas in the world,
why are you the only pirate that no ones wants,
walk the plank.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!