MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands government accuses Argentina of yet another attempt to undermine the Islands economy

“We have the right to develop our own natural resources” and “Argentine domestic legislation does not apply to the Falklands”

The Falkland Islands government said on Friday that Argentina's latest illegal attempt to undermine the Islands economy is in direct contradiction with its alleged claim that it wants to establish a dialogue and is yet another effort to disrupt the lives of 3.000 people who want to live in peace and with good neighborly relations.

 On Thursday the Argentine embassy in London posted a notice in its site saying that a bill had been approved in Congress which contemplates 15-year jail terms, huge fines and confiscation of assets to all those oil firms seeking to operate off the Falkland Islands.

The Falklands government said it regrets such unfriendly action and recalls that in accordance with its right to self determination, as established in the UN charter, “we have the right to develop our own natural resources” and Argentine domestic legislation does not apply to the Falklands.

This latest attempt to harm the Falklands economy and the flagrant claim that the Islanders' resources are Argentine “highlight their intentions towards a country of 3.000 people”.

The official release from the elected Falklands government “Response to the Argentine Government’s intent to impose criminal sanctions on oil companies operating in the Falkland Islands”, reads as follows:

“The Falkland Islands Government regrets this latest attempt by the Argentine Government to undermine the economy of the Falkland Islands and prevent the legitimate exploration and exploitation of our natural resources.

”In accordance with our right to self-determination, as outlined in Chapter 1 Article 1.2 of the UN Charter, we are absolutely clear that we have the right to develop our own natural resources. We remain entirely clear that Argentine domestic legislation does not apply to the Falkland Islands, therefore there is absolutely no legal basis for the Argentine Government’s proposed actions.

“Passing legislation which directly seeks to harm the Falkland Islands economy is in direct contradiction of Argentine Government claims that all it wants is dialogue.

Recent attempts to disrupt trade, tourism, and air links, and to flagrantly claim the Islanders’ resources as Argentine highlight their intentions towards our country of three thousand people. Such efforts are entirely counter-productive in developing any relationship between the Falkland Islands and Argentina”.