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UK reacts to 'Malvinas are Argentine' signs on public transportation

Saturday, November 22nd 2014 - 05:30 UTC
Full article 114 comments
Senator Teresa Luna said the initiative is directed not only at the foreigner who comes as a tourist, but also at the citizens in general Senator Teresa Luna said the initiative is directed not only at the foreigner who comes as a tourist, but also at the citizens in general
The UK Foreign Office said the move was “regrettable but not surprising”, and described it as “a hostile course of action”. The UK Foreign Office said the move was “regrettable but not surprising”, and described it as “a hostile course of action”.
“But no sign can change the rights of the Falkland Islanders to their own identity and we are determined to uphold that right,” the spokesman added. “But no sign can change the rights of the Falkland Islanders to their own identity and we are determined to uphold that right,” the spokesman added.

The UK has objected to Argentine congress decision that public transportation should carry signs expressing the country's claim over the Falkland Islands. A law passed by the Argentine Congress says vehicles must declare “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, or the “Malvinas are Argentine”.

 The members of congress behind the initiative said it would reflect “our undeniable sovereignty” over the islands.

The UK Foreign Office said the move was “regrettable but not surprising”.

The new measure was introduced as part of a wider raft of public transport reforms which were passed unanimously on Thursday.

Senator Teresa Luna, the member of Congress who proposed the new regulation, wrote to the president of the parliament to say: “It is directed not only at the foreigner who comes here as a tourist or visits our country, but also at the citizens in general, and will serve to reinforce our history, our culture and our identity.”

Argentina lays claim to the Islands, but Britain maintains that it has sovereignty and has accused Argentina of ignoring the wishes of the Island's residents who wish to remain as a British Overseas Territory.

Last year, Falkland Islanders took part in a referendum, voting by 1,513 to three to remain a British overseas territory.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said at the time that the result “could not have sent a clearer message” but Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has maintained that the islanders' wishes are not relevant, and has described them as 'squatters'.

The Foreign Office in London condemned the move as “a hostile course of action”.

“But no sign can change the rights of the Falkland Islanders to their own identity and we are determined to uphold that right,” the spokesman added.

Top Comments

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  • Think

    Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......
    Which came first?
    The chicken...?:
    State Sponsored Propaganda already hanging at the hospital, schools, public offices, many a private home AND the Victory Bar in Malvinas..:
    http://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/47969/0x0/our-islands-our-home.jpg

    Or the egg...?:
    State sponsored propaganda to be glued onto public transport vehicles in Argentina...:
    http://en.mercopress.com/data/cache/noticias/47969/0x0/our-islands-our-home.jpg

    Nov 22nd, 2014 - 09:10 am 0
  • HansNiesund

    Personally, I'm for the egg, myself. It's such a typical Malvinista logical contradiction, insofar as Keeping Calm and Malvinas Argentinas are mutually self-contradictory, and indeed intended to be so.

    Nov 22nd, 2014 - 09:16 am 0
  • Monkeymagic

    Hmmm which came first the chicken:

    1) the first recorded landing and sovereignty claim by the British in 1690

    Or the next chicken

    2) the British population in Port Egmont in the 18th century

    Or the next chicken

    3) the British population on the islands for the last 180 years

    Or perhaps the egg

    1) 6 weeks in 1832 where a 50 strong crew of the SS Sarandi arrived on the islands hoisted the Argentine rag of a flag, murdered their Captain Esteban Mestivier and raped his wife in front of their children, before the 50 (According to Argentine National Archives) were evicted within 6 weeks.

    Hmmmm...no mention of those (the only relevant) chickens and eggs.

    Nov 22nd, 2014 - 09:52 am 0
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