MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands: “there are three parties to the debate” UK tells Cristina Fernandez

President Cristina Fernandez takes the dispute to the Security Council

The United Kingdom reiterated on Tuesday that there can be no Falkland Islands sovereignty discussions with Argentina unless and until the Islanders so wish, because there are three parties to the debate: UK, Argentina and the Falkland Islands people.

The statement was in reply to President Cristina Fernandez morning speech at the United Nations Security Council when she again called on the UK to sit down at a table and resume discussions on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

“Such discussions are not a matter for two governments (UK and Argentina). There are three sides to the debate” and the opinion of the Falklands’ people can’t be left out said British ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant.

“There can be no discussions on the Falklands sovereignty unless and until the Islanders so wish”, insisted the UK ambassador.

The British diplomat also pointed out that the Islanders ‘were unequivocally clear’ on the issue at the last 10/11 March referendum, when with an overwhelming 92% turnout, 99.8% of ballots said ‘Yes’ to continue as a British Overseas Territory.

On Monday President Cristina Fernandez had already brought up the Falklands/Malvinas dispute issue in her meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who apparently said he was willing to continue with his ‘good offices’ in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

However the UK has made it clear all along that there is no possibility of such UN mediation, since there will be no sovereignty negotiations with Argentina that ignore the legitimate right to self determination of the Falkland Islands people, as enshrined in the UN charter.

Cristina Fernandez turned up at the Security Council because non permanent member Argentina is holding the chair of the council during the month of August.

The brief release from the UK representation before the UN said:

“President (Cristina Fernandez de) Kirchner said in the Council that the United Kingdom and Argentina should discuss the Falkland Islands. I want to reiterate that any such discussion is not just a matter for the two governments. There are three parties to the debate. The views of the people of the Falkland Islands cannot be dismissed. There can be no discussion on the sovereignty of the Islands unless and until the Islanders so wish. They made their views unequivocally clear in the referendum in March when they voted overwhelmingly to remain a UK Overseas Territory.

“The United Kingdom fully respects all its obligations and responsibilities as a member of the United Nations. The principle of self-determination on which our position on the Falkland Islands is based is enshrined in the UN Charter.”

Tuesday’s debate at the UN Security Council was on “Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations”.