MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands resurges in controversy over Russian annexation of Crimea
“Attention London: Crimea has far more reason to be in Russia than the Falklands have to be part of Great Britain,” said Alexei Pushkov 
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond had earlier condemned Russia's “flagrant breach of Ukrainian and international law” in seizing Crimea a year ago. Russia has more claim to Crimea than Britain has to the Falkland Islands, a senior Russian lawmaker insisted Sunday as London again denounced Moscow's “illegal annexation” of the peninsula.
“Attention London: Crimea has far more reason to be in Russia than the Falklands have to be part of Great Britain,” said Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee on Twitter.
The outspoken MP was responding to British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who had earlier Sunday condemned Russia's “flagrant breach of Ukrainian and international law” in seizing Crimea a year ago.
“The annexation of Crimea was illegal and illegitimate in March 2014, and remains illegal and illegitimate in March 2015. Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine,” Hammond said in a statement.
Argentina claims the Falkland Islands, which lie 500 kilometers (310 miles) off its coast in the South Atlantic -- some 14,000 kilometers from London.
But the Islands have been British since 1833 despite a short-lived Argentine military invasion in 1982, which sparked a war in which more than 900 people died.
The inhabitants of the windswept archipelago voted overwhelmingly for it to remain a British overseas territory in a referendum in 2013.
Shortly after Russia's annexation of Crimea, Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez said the land grab was no more acceptable than Britain's hold on the islands.
“The Malvinas have always belonged to Argentina,” she said. ”Crimea once belonged to the Soviet Union and was then given by (former Soviet leader Nikita) Khrushchev to the Ukrainians”.
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Read all commentsWhat a shame for this Russian. Simple facts. Going back to 'ancient times', we can identify occupancy by Cimmerians, Scythians, Romans, Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Khazars, the state of Kievan Rus', the Byzantine Empire, the Kipchaks, and the Golden Horde. In the 13th century CE, portions were controlled by the Republic of Venice and by the Republic of Genoa. Then there were the Mongol invasions, and Crimea was incorporated into the territory of the Golden Horde throughout the 14th century CE. The Crimean Khanate, a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, succeeded the Golden Horde and lasted from 1449 to 1779. In 1774, the Khanate was proclaimed independent under the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, and was then annexed by Russia in 1783. It appears that we can trace Russia's 'right' to Crimea back to 1783. On the other hand, the Falkland Islands were discovered by Britain in 1690. I'd say that puts Russia 93 years behind. As for argieland, as we are all aware, only managed 6 weeks of illegitimate occupancy. Still, why expect accuracy from two useless 'administrations' with features in common. Both are corrupt and criminal. In argieland, it's fairly common, widespread and 'normal'. The same is true in Russia with the largest criminal organisation being Bratva. Both are in deep trouble. Argieland's troubles may be seen to 'begin', in the recent past, in the early 80s. It made the mistake of waking Britain up, thinking Britain wouldn't, or couldn't, respond. There are often suggestions that 'the junta' wanted to establish a negotiating position over the Falklands. It forgot who was in power in Britain. Russia tried something similar. Fuelled by Putin's KGB nostalgia for the Soviet Union. Argieland got beaten down quite easily and is now reduced to whining. Putin is a bit more difficult to handle. But sanctions are biting. Thus military 'adventures' in northern Europe and Scandinavia. Both doomed to fail.
Mar 23rd, 2015 - 06:06 pm 0He would say that, wouldn't he.
Mar 23rd, 2015 - 07:43 pm 0Who cares?
Mar 23rd, 2015 - 07:44 pm 02015 and the Falkland Islands are still British.
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