MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina and Uruguay praise new spirit in relations and “return to normality”.
Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said that the meeting between President Mauricio Macri and his Uruguayan counterpart Tabare Vazquez last Thursday symbolized a “return to normality” for bilateral relations between the two neighbours. Read full article
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Jan 11th, 2016 - 02:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0think Uruguay will be returned to Argentina also,
just saying..
'Return to normality' ??
Jan 11th, 2016 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In Argentina, there is no “normality” to return to. Even the term Argentina is a local mispronunciation of the word Anormalidad.
GOLLUM never had any intention of taking us to the ICJ it was just his usual smokescreen otherwise why has nothing happened since April 2014?
Jan 11th, 2016 - 05:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good news on the lifting of the transhipments ban but when are they going to pay for the three years electricity they had via the sub-Plate cable?
@3
Jan 11th, 2016 - 06:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It might be the right time for the FI government to take this whole issue to the ICJ. Basically, to stop the alleged argentine blockade to the island and to ask for the corresponding economic compensation in case of the current argentine decisions would be declared “illegal”.
A decision from the ICJ in favour of the FI Government will boost your position internationally and in the LATAM region.
I still don't understand why either the FI Government or the UK Government always avoided the ICJ to stop the argentine authoritarian and “illegal” attitudes.
We all know what trying to get “compensation” from Argentina would be like.
Jan 11th, 2016 - 06:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They don't even pay their debts as it is, and the queue of current creditors stretches for many km.
Sometimes it seems they spend a larger part of their GDP on courtroom pirouettes arguing why they should not pay what they contracted to pay, than the amounts that are actually due to be paid.
@5
Jan 11th, 2016 - 07:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, this is the only reason why the FI Government have never tried to get the legal support of the ICJ? They can avoid any economic compensation claim and get some international “status”.
Let me add that I'm pretty sure Argentina will finally pay its debts to the bond holders. So, don't lose your faith...and start the claim !!!
@6 pgerman
Jan 11th, 2016 - 09:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Falkland Islanders are fine with the status quo. All the Argentine blockade succeeded in doing is adversely affect the Argentine economy and show the world exactly why Argentina shouldn't be allowed to get their theiving mitts on the islands.
It is Argentina that perceives a grievance, so it is up to them to take their 'issues' to the ICJ.
Why won't they do that, pgerman? I mean if Argentina's case is soooooo solid you'd think they'd jump at the chance to get their hands on the islands.
Oh but I forgot. At the ICJ they only allow FACTUAL evidence, not stuff that Argentina just made up one day.
Face it, Argentina will never go to the ICJ as they'd lose and then the world would tell them to STFU.
But then again successive Argentine governments don't want this issue settled. What better tool to distract people such as yourself whilst they stuff their off shore bank accounts with the Argentine taxpayers money, and the revenue from the natural resources which they've embezzled.
And people like you fall for it EVERY time.
The bond holders may get *some* of their money, but over the years the cost to get this far has been enormous. It has cost them literally millions. And so far they have little to show for it, other than a few news clippings and the unfaltering love and admiration of the entire peronist nation and every redistributionist comunacho economist wannabee.
Jan 11th, 2016 - 10:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0On the other hand we might think of those efforts and expenses, of the hedge-fund bond holders and Task Force Argentina, et alia, as an immensely valuable public service, an enduring warning and banner reminder of the True Nature of the argentos and their slimeball populist-nationalist ways, unencumbered by honour, honesty, legitimacy, or minimum standards of modern hygiene.
I read the usual rubbish on the media about how Argentina is changing its stripes and will now become the Next Best Place to Invest and all of that. How in just a few short weeks macrismo has transformed a nation of manic monkeys with razors into one of butterflies and puppies and eternally reliable full payment according to terms.
But we've seen those promises before. People selling worthless shiny objects to the rubes.
@7
Jan 11th, 2016 - 10:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The Falkland Islanders are fine with the status quo”. Really? Excellent...so there is no blockade at all and there are no threats from your neighbours too. All the complains about it that I regularly read in this site are lies. I know that !!!
If there were a blockade it would be stopped by filing an issue to the ICJ since it would be illegal by international law. No need to go to the ICJ at all for both sides....
@8
Don't worry about bond holders...unless you were one of them. They will get their money pretty soon.
@9
Jan 11th, 2016 - 11:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why would the Falklanders take the matter to the ICJ? They are quite happy with the status quo. Argentina can blockade and cry to their Latam comrades that it is not fair that the UK and the Falklanders don't want dialog, why would they when they can carry on a normal. You see Argentina wants the FALKLANDS but the FALKLANDS don't want Argentina. Simples really.
@9 There is no “ blockade” of the Falklands. But Argentina has tried to impose an “ agreement” on Mercosur and Unasur members to prevent South American nations from trading with the Falklands, and to prevent the use of ports and other facilities by those trading openly with the Falklands. The agreement is frequently violated and of course that got CFK's panties in a wad rather regularly. Islanders often go to southern Chile (esp Punta Arenas) to purchase materials needed on the islands. But Argentine interference in trade with the islands does increase complexity and costs. So the current “normal” is inconvenient.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 12:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0@9 The bond holders are still a long time away from getting paid, and there are still a lot of obstacles that the slimy residue of Kirchnerism can throw into the works. The creditors are unlikely to get much cash out of the deal and they have expressed their willingness to take new debt. And as we all know, any Argentine debt instrument is just one snort from becoming worthless, so if things do go that way, the creditors (the smart ones) will sell that paper at a discount and quickly, before it becomes obvious that it is worthless.
Surely, if the argentine government is going around stating and accusing the British of doing this, and the British stole that,
Jan 12th, 2016 - 01:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0The British are the aggressors and the bad guys,
Surely at the very least other South American countries should ask them to prove it,
And at best, Argentina should take it to the ICJ and end it once and for all,
Surely in the name of democracy and human rights, that they are all signed up to,
Someone somewhere should have ask,
And if they the argentine government refuses to take it to the ICJ, must in itself indicate that they have absolutely no claim what so ever.
.
@12 The other nations of South America view Argentina as the noisy 800 pound gorilla of the neighbourhood, and in order to keep a modicum of peace at home, they do tend to go along with way too may of the gorilla's demands. Even Chile, which in recent times has been threatened both economically and militarily by Argentina, and in theory could tell their neighbour to just pound sand, instead plays the lapdog. It's disgraceful but that is the nature of the limp-wristed politics of Letrine America.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 01:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0@9 Regarding any chance of progress in the talks over the defaulted Argentine debt, the news today suggests otherwise. For the meeting next week Argentina is saying they don't plan to propose an offer. And they're hiring an additional army of attorneys whose expertise is in opposing restructuring. So don't look for any quick solutions.
, thanks
Jan 12th, 2016 - 01:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0@9 pgerman
Jan 12th, 2016 - 06:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0I never said there wasn't a blockade. However this 'blockade' has been completely ineffectual, and has harmed Argentina far more than it ever harmed the Falkland Islands.
All it did was push the Falklands further from Argentina's grasp. All it did was make the Falklanders sever links with Argentina and look to alternatives that didn't have 'strings' attached.
So why bother going to the ICJ? The Falkland Islanders are just fine. It's Argentina that has shot itself in the foot, and as I stated above, shown the world EXACTLY what Argentina is really like. A pathetic, spiteful and hateful country.
The world has been laughing at Argentina for the past decade. Whether or not Argentina continues to act like a petulant, spiteful, hateful and belligerent child is up to the current government.
We'll just have to wait and see. However, I foresee, like so many of his predecessors, Macri using the 'Malvinas Myth' at some point to distract the Argentine public away from his governments failings. I hope I'm wrong...but I doubt it.
As for the Argentine public, they really need to wake up and smell the coffee. For far too long they've just sat back and watched as all their country's money has been stolen. They've allowed the corruption to take over at every level of Argentine society.
Argentina. A country blessed with vast natural resources. A country that should be as rich as the USA. A country that could be one of the major players in the world.
But what do we have? A never-was country that has p!ssed away its past, present and future due to greed and corruption, and a belief that the world owes them a living.
Aren't you glad that you don't live in Argentina, pgerman? Aren't you glad you live in the stable democratic Commonwealth country of Canada?
For those few Islanders is all very well, the UK is paying the bill, for that comfort.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 01:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If the islander are so British as they say, and not Argentinians, go and settle in Birmingham that is a nice place for you all. Go back to your country.
Yes the loss of the burgeoning trade taking place in the greater metropolitan area of stanley hamlet has been a huge blow to the Argentine economy.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 01:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Real shot in the foot that.
Living on the islands as a colonist is a form of auto-justice. The place will never thrive. A life lived there will be a life wasted unless they own up, accept Argentinian views and let London and B.A get on with forming a mature agreement. (as per the UN's requests).
Enjoy the fancy new public toilet.
Go back to your country.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 02:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0they are at home,
its the argies that stole the land they occupy, so its the argies that should go back home.
@16, 17 et cetera
Jan 12th, 2016 - 03:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“.....the place will never thrive....”
Ummmmm.....
Falkland Island per capita GDP ten times that of Argenzuela
http://en.mercopress.com/2014/11/04/falklands-have-a-per-capita-gdp-ten-times-higher-than-argentina
Argentina has done everything it needs to do to convince the islanders (and the world) that there is no way they might ever wish to be part of Argentina.
Jamás de los jamases.
@19
Jan 12th, 2016 - 05:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just some figures....
Based on the post of another islander who mentioned that the maintenance of the garrison costs 120 GBP per year (really it was informed much expensive but let’s accept that). Considering a population of 3.000 people the total cost of the garrison per capita is around U$D 60.000 per year.
So, it is quite clear that the FI per capita is actually negative. Only the “charity” of the taxpayers changes that. Even an “argentine kirchnerista” seems to be more efficient from this point of view.
It would take more than 10x the Argentinian GDP p.c. to make the average human live a year in that place.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Anyone who wishes to not flush their life would be a lot quicker to take a financial cut and live in BA.
By no means perfect but at least theres more to do than watch sheep in the rain.
@12 if this is the Argentine perspective on the islands, that no argento would deign to live there, then there is really no purpose to pursuing their chimerical claim to the territory.
Jan 12th, 2016 - 06:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@20
Jan 12th, 2016 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0HaHaHa you must be an Argie accountant or work for Indec. For your edification 120 GBP = U$S 172. So your figures show that each FALKLANDER costs U$S 172/3000 = about 5 cents U$S
I can live with that.
@23
Jan 12th, 2016 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is quite obvious I was referring to GBP 120 millions. I wrote this “short” figure since thought it was more than evident.....
@24
Jan 13th, 2016 - 12:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0Glad we cleared that up. lets see £ 120 million divided by the UK population( lets say 62) thats “ short ” for 62 million is £1.93 ( say £2.00 ) per annum or £ .00548 per day I can live with that. Actually believe it or not the majority of the UK population pay tax even us pensioners. Mind you I find it hard living on only my pensions, £12756 or U$S 18368 or $ 259549 ( pesos ) I can still afford the money to finance the FALKLANDS Defence.
@25
Jan 13th, 2016 - 02:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Taxes are mandatory but donations are voluntarily made so, I honestly would love to read additional information about any donation you made from your personal account to aford the garrison. How many GBP have you donated lately to your “patriotic” cause?.
In the meanwhile, the FI citizen are more expensive, for the UK, than the FI income per capita. That's mean, using the expression of a british journalist the FI are a ”while (and expensive) elephant in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean”.
Quite extrange way of winning a war !!!...by the way
Imagine how much less the UK would need to spend on the defence of the Falklands if there were no threat of the habitually rude and untoward behaviour on the part of the argentos. Perhaps when Argentina is ceded to Paraguay then some relaxation may be in order.
Jan 13th, 2016 - 03:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0I always find it amusing just how much our resident trolls disparage the Falkland Islands as being a desolate wasteland that no one would want to live on yet they are so, so very desperate to get their thieving mitts on them!
Jan 13th, 2016 - 07:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0As for pgerman, as usual I'm touched about the concern you have for us poor British taxpayers, having to spend pennies a year each to help defend the Falkland Islands. It's really moving...NOT!
As we have told you many, many times before pgerman, you can't put a monetary value on freedom.
The UK is using the MINIMAL amount of military hardware and personnel to keep you thieving Argentines off the Falkland Islands. The last time we took our 'eye of the ball' you Argentines invaded and it cost an awful lot. And I don't mean just money. It cost 255 British servicemen's lives, and 3 Falkland Islanders lives to bring freedom back to the Falkland Islands.
It's better to invest a 'small amount' of money now to keep the thieving Argentines away than spend a lot of blood later to remove you.
And as we have said many, many times before, your costings don't take into account that if the military weren't based in the Falklands they and their equipment would be based somewhere else.
So the actual costs are the resupply of the base, and the flights, which in the UK defence budget are peanuts. Tiny expenses.
So stow your 'false' concern. The British taxpayers have no problem with a minuscule amount of our overall defence budget being used to defend the Falklands Islands, and by extension South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, Queen Elizabeth Land, and the British Antarctic Territory.
A tiny, tiny amount of money. If we put it in perspective the UK defence budget is US$66.1 billion per year. A absolute most we're spending a paltry US$170 million per year on the Falklands. Tiny amount to defend the UK's South Atlantic territories, and provide the military with great training opportunities.
Don't you feel silly now, pgerman?
@15 Are you implying that Argentina is corrupt because of Malvinas?
Jan 14th, 2016 - 12:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0@29 “ Are you implying that Argentina is corrupt because of Malvinas?”
Jan 14th, 2016 - 03:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0I don't think anyone is suggesting that. The corruption is in the DNA. And a dozen generations of interbreeding with Canadians won't make the corruption gene recede in its prominence and malignancy.
In fact, when I received my DNI here, my first impulse was to go steal a car, paint political slogans on bridges, and swindle a group of pensioners.
@ 28 LEPRecon writes:
Jan 15th, 2016 - 01:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0“I always find it amusing just how much our resident trolls disparage the Falkland Islands as being a desolate wasteland that no one would want to live on yet they are so, so very desperate to get their thieving mitts on them!”
That is because only 4 neuron brains believe that the BOT Falkland Islands has once belonged to the Argentine republic, which didn't exist in 1833.
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