Luis Alberto Lacalle, the Ex-President of Uruguay, is currently in the Falkland Islands on a week-long tour, along with Uruguayan Elected Representative Mario Jaime Trobo. Lacalle served as President from 1990 to 1995 and Trobo is presently a Member of the International Affairs Committee. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSounds like free holidays might pay dividends....
Feb 26th, 2016 - 01:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sounds like some of the neighbours are more sensible than the argentos.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 02:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0Called soft power Voice.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 02:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Can sometimes be more successful than hard power.
Hard power - or maybe noisy and abusive bluster.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 03:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Uruguay has always had civil relations with the Islanders - for all the supposed support they give to Argentina's spurious claim (also known as lip-service).
Feb 26th, 2016 - 04:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0I seem to recall that Uruguay was the last country to maintain a consulate in Stanley, having been amongst the first there too. There are well established business relations between the Islands and Montevideo. Which appear likely to get stronger.
@2 and 5
Feb 26th, 2016 - 05:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hate to break the news to both of you, but Lacalle is a former president and has absolutely no official authority to conduct any business on behalf of Uruguay. Thus this visit is from a diplomatic standpoint meaningless.
If there is any soft power behind it, then the people behind the soft power are as dumb as sawdust. :)
Hate to break it to you but not all countries have ex-presidents like Argentina.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 05:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0Trobo is a currently elected representative. However don't you espouse some meme or theory that states don't deal or speak to sub-state entities..... oops.
It is worth noting the C24 document for the 2016 session includes this:
Feb 26th, 2016 - 08:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0the General Assembly...
requested the Special Committee to continue to
seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration, and in particular...
To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the
Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories.
So note no use of the word people, simply the population who live on theses islands have the fundamental right to self determination, so says the UN General Assembly.
Oh dear! This news is giving VoiceofThink sleepless nights. Unless of course he is currently in his hovel in Trout Run?
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Nostril, former Presidents have influence, its clear Uruguay wants closer links.
@7
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0At least Argentina does not, nor should it. Other countries can do as they please, but Buenos Aires policy is only nations recognized as independent states should have the luxury of bilateral contact. All other subs need to deal with attachees.
10
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0So what you're saying is that there is no LatAm solidarity over the issue of the Falkland Islands.
Also in the same document the the General Assembly states that the C24 should:
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0...continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to
the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories.
Now both the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar have asked the C24 when they are going to make an official visit.
As the C24 has failed to visit I think it is time both Gib and FI tell the C24 that as they are failing to do their job properly and thus they are removing themselves from the C24 listing.
If any outside party objects then refer them to the ICJ.
Falklands peoples VOICE must be heard?
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry #1 I don't think that means you. You are the VOICE of the dark side. :-)))
I was expecting Macri to move in that direction too, but I set my goals to high it seems.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0The Falklands voice must be heard........self determination.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 11:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Uruguay have a major problem with the Falklands, or at least the commie bastards of The Broad Fraud do. TMBOA boxed them into aligning with her and seem unable to shake off the poison she poured into their ears.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 11:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0Only to be expected of course given the dumb-fuck nature of the beast that 'rules' us.
Perhaps things will change at the next election, I do hope so.
the Falkland’s “voice must be heard”.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 01:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not just heard, when it comes to their future - it must be adhered to.
Lacalle stated that his experience of the Legislative Assembly was “government at its best”
Hmmmm 'Government' - this would be the government that Argentina should be dealing with, but refuses to.
#12: re: C24 visits:
Feb 26th, 2016 - 03:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Gibraltar submitted its new constitution to the C24 in 2006 and has asked, every year, for the C24 to inform us a/ whether it meets the requirements for de-listing, and b/ if not, to tell us where it does not.
They have never answered.
Gibraltar has also asked the C24 to visit. In fact, last year, the chairman was offered open-ended plane tickets for the trip (grandstanding admittedly). His response?
You know I won't be taking you up on that offer
This was in response to the disclosure that he had held a PRIVATE MEETING with the Spanish Foreign Minister prior to the annual C24 meeting. A minister of a hostile country who has no role to play in Gibraltar's status re: the C24.
It's scandalous and highlights what an embarassment this committee is.
#18: There is more than one form of colonialism. One, cover the case where a subjugated people wants to be selfdetermined. Another one is when a colonial power colonize inside somebody elses territory implanting its own citizens and controlling strictly the inmigration as to mantain the origin of the population like in their Metropolis.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 04:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Malvinas and Gibraltar are two territories under a sovereignty dispute recognized by the UN. Which means the UN do not recognize sovereignty to either side. Ergo, UN c24 would not go to Gibraltar as if the place were british sovereign territory.
Nevertheles, UN c24 have visited other british colonies around the world when it was appropiate so dont worry about that.
So this Gibraltar submitted and asked the c24...., is bulshit and a cheap try to be recognized as a selfdetermined people by the UN c24.
@19...So why are these territories on the C24 list? If they are on the list as a NSGT then, ergo, they are entitled to Self Determination and all that entails within the C24 and have the ability to be taken off the list if they fulfill the necessary criteria. Your argument does not hold water.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 04:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”If there is any “soft power” behind it, then the people behind the soft power are as dumb as sawdust. :)
Feb 26th, 2016 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0so, a bit like those hollywood 'stars' TMBOA liked to roll out, or el-Pope-on-a-rope-a-dope..
oops, sorry, forgot: the pope represents a big beardy white man who lives above the clouds
my bad.
#18: There is more than one form of colonialism. One, cover the case where a subjugated people wants to be selfdetermined. Another one is when a colonial power colonize inside somebody elses territory implanting its own citizens and controlling strictly the inmigration as to mantain the origin of the population like in their Metropolis.
So, Patagonia then?
Uruguay
Feb 26th, 2016 - 07:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0good on you,
mind you, some say they hear wailing outside the Uruguayan embassy at night,
some say, its CFK crying in her sleep.
So when is Argentina going to de-colonise Tierra del Fuego, remove their implanted population, and return the islands to the original indigenous inhabitants?
Feb 26th, 2016 - 07:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Total starts production at Argentine Tierra del Fuego offshore gas field
Feb 26th, 2016 - 08:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0French oil company
perhaps the argies think there is profit in them gas fields.
@19
Feb 26th, 2016 - 09:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ergo, UN c24 would not go to Gibraltar as if the place were british sovereign territory.
If the c24 are going AGAINST their stated criteria and their reason for being, give me one reason why the UK should listen to them.
They are not credible. They are bullshitters.
So read @8 zathras
the General Assembly...
requested the Special Committee to continue to
seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration, and in particular...
To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the
Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories.
Again if the C24 take no notice of the General Assembly of the UN, why should Britain take note of anything the C24 says?
troll#19#
Feb 26th, 2016 - 10:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, I get it! It's like:“Oils, ain’t oils, Sol”
There are normal colony’s and then there are the ones that fall within the imaginary boundary of a future Argentine empire.
The argument is always so perfectly clear when it is put by an Argentine troll.
Malvinas and Gibraltar are two territories under a sovereignty dispute recognized by the UN. Which means the UN do not recognize sovereignty to either side.
Feb 26th, 2016 - 11:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Patently untrue.
Recognition of a sovereignty dispute is nothing more that recognition of a sovereignty dispute.
The UK recognises there is are sovereignty disputes but that is just recognition of the existence of these claims. Nothing more. Using Liberato's logic, the UK must recognise it doesn't have sovereignty.
Which it has clearly stated hundreds if not thousands of time that is does have full sovereignty over these territories.
The UN recognises UK sovereignty over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands because it is being told to 'decolonise' them. Colonisation by its very definition means the territory does not have its own sovereignty.
It's a logical fallacy that recognising a dispute gives credence to that dispute.
I recognise Liberato's is an ineffectual idiot.... doesn't make me one.
In 'Real Politik', this is all just hot air and bluster.
Feb 27th, 2016 - 02:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0What can Argentina, or Spain, actually DO about this?
Comment removed by the editor.
Feb 27th, 2016 - 07:25 am - Link - Report abuse 028# What can Argentina, or Spain, actually DO about this?
Feb 27th, 2016 - 08:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0Nothing that they haven't already tried, they are being mugged by reality.
And that's what really pisses them off!
us?? nothing downunder,m unga is then one.........
Feb 27th, 2016 - 09:13 am - Link - Report abuse 029 George-upanus.
Feb 27th, 2016 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0If the UN is so important to you - WHY did your country ignore a Binding Resolution from the UN Security Council then - 504 - in April 1982?
These Resolutions - as you must know - carry a lot more International weight than whatever the UNGA can recommend
Arentines really are fussy - about which bits of history and which bits of International Law they choose to abide by!
@32
Feb 27th, 2016 - 04:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funnily enough I have a friend who knows ALL the rules of golf as long as they don't apply to him.
Considering that Argentina itself was stolen from the indigenous inhabitants,
Feb 27th, 2016 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the likes of georgeneurus has no leg to stand on.
The UK will return the Malvinas within 25 years.
Feb 28th, 2016 - 12:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hepathetic, I think this Malvinas thing is in northern Argentina, no? Do what you wish, just don't vex the neighbours over in the Falkland Islands.
Feb 28th, 2016 - 12:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Funny thing about self determination is that Diego García islanders, the Chagossians, didn´t get any. All they got was crimes against their humanity, their pets gassed to death.
Feb 28th, 2016 - 07:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Secondly, you´ve got some guts to talk about indigenous inhabitants, considering opium trade, slavery, racism, and utter extermination of indigenous people.
The spaniards married and had children with indigenous inhabitants, your ancestors merely exterminated them to the last one, then proceeded to bring half Africa as slaves. Have some shame at least, instead of using such dumbfolded arguments.
37# ”The spaniards married and had children with indigenous inhabitants,...
Feb 29th, 2016 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0And look what the results of that spawned!!
Pot, kettle, black.
Nobody gives sh*te for what this ultra old guy says.
Feb 29th, 2016 - 12:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The important thing here is what the current govt of the Germans republics del Uruguay opines.
And that is a complete support on the Argentinian position.
Got it?????
@37 So Deigo Garcia is used by Malvanistas as a shining example of how UK politicians in the 60's and 70's shat on the population of that Island. You are quite right, it was a terrible and tragic thing to do. The only problem you have is that we are now in 2016, we learn from our mistakes, they are, at this time, investigating whether it is possible for the population to return and be self sustainable.
Feb 29th, 2016 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You on the other hand would like the UK to not allow the Falkland Islanders their self determination and by inference, you support what happened to the Chagos population in the 60's. The UK has patently moved on, Argentina on the other hand still wants to colonise. Congratulations.
....'Secondly, you´ve got some guts to talk about indigenous inhabitants, considering opium trade, slavery, racism, and utter extermination of indigenous people.
The spaniards married and had children with indigenous inhabitants, your ancestors merely exterminated them to the last one, then proceeded to bring half Africa as slaves.....”
So the Spanish empire never killed any indigenous people, were not involved in slavery, never raped, murdered and stole. Seems like you need to take your rose tinted spectacles of in regard to the Spanish Empire. You do know that the Africans, Dutch and Arabs were some of the worst perpetrators of the slave trade don't you. But lets just blame the British.
Oh and they weren't my ancestors, we all stayed in the British Isles and Ireland, they were your ancestors and forefathers that raped, pillaged and stole from the indigenous peoples, not mine.
@37
Mar 01st, 2016 - 12:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funny thing about “self determination” is that Diego García islanders, the Chagossians, didn´t get any.
So are you a member of the Chagos support group then? Are you doing something to get some of the Islanders back or are you sitting on your ringpiece doing jack squit?
This aims to get the Chagos Islanders who want to go back, returned and the Government feasibility study to do that is happening now.
Also, in the 1960s the British Government tried to sell the Falkland Islanders down the river and cancelled TSR2, P1154, HS 681 and Blue Streak, all acts of supreme folly and stupidity.
Now the British Government are talking positive action to resettle Chagossians, so is your point that the British Government should not, due to a wrongdoing in the past?
The spaniards married and had children with indigenous inhabitants
They also murdered a lot of them-the Spanish were far worse than the British-why do you think most Spanish colonies threw the Spanish out?
Most British possessions were returned peacefully to the local inhabitants-that's why there is a huge British Commonwealth and no Spanish Commonwealth.
your ancestors merely exterminated them to the last one,
Absolute rubbish-one of the reasons that Britain got chucked out of the USA is that Britain wanted to keep vast areas of lands for the Native Indians.
Secondly, you´ve got some guts to talk about indigenous inhabitants
It is a fact that Argentina murdered thousands of local people regardless of what the British did-you cannot sweep this under the carpet.
Perhaps you would like to outline which indigenous people the Falkland Islanders exterminated?
37
Mar 01st, 2016 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0you do talk tommy rot.
@37 LukeDig
Mar 02nd, 2016 - 04:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 01stly the Spanish didn't 'marry' and have children with the natives. They raped the native women and forced them to have their children.
This was after murdering most of the male natives.
Als0, please remind us what happened to all the African people who were once enslaved in Argentina?
I mean at one time there were about as many black Africans held as slaves in Argentina as there were in Brazil.
Now if you look at the demographic of Brazil about 50% of the population is descended from those Africans.
But if you look at the demographic of Argentina it was like those Africans never even existed.
Why is that LukeDig? Where did all the black people go?
Well we all know the answer to that, no matter how much you try to 'whitewash' (pun intended) Argentina's history. The black people were murdered rather than allowed to be free.
http://www.ibtimes.com/blackout-how-argentina-eliminated-africans-its-history-conscience-1289381
Tut, tut. Didn't anyone tell you that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
Now lets move onto the genocide Argentina committed against the native peoples of South America. Wiping out entire communities, and then raping the women (just to be on the safe side), forcing the catholic religion on them, destroying their culture, stealing their lands.
Now lets look at modern day Argentina. Wiping out entire communities, forcing the catholic religion on them, destroying what's left of their culture, stealing what little land they had been allowed to keep, employing economic policies on them that makes them starve to death. Literally starve to death.
And you have the cheek to criticise the UK's past? Especially when your present is far worse than the UK's past.
You can continue to live in denial, but one day Argentina will be held to account for its crimes against the native peoples of South America.
As we say here:
Mar 02nd, 2016 - 08:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Los mexicanos descendieron de los aztecas
Los peruanos descendieron de los incas
Los argentinos descendieron de los barcos
Or you could say
Mexicans descended from the Aztecs
Peruvians descended from the Incas
Argentines descended from boats
@43
Mar 02nd, 2016 - 11:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And you have the cheek to criticise the UK's past? Especially when your present is far worse than the UK's past.
Great point amongst many.
#37
Mar 03rd, 2016 - 10:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0Read the history of Spain and Portugal in their colonisation of Central and South America. Pizzaro in Peru ? He took over the country peaceably with the blessings of the indigenous population ?
A somewhat biased account of world history in which Britain bad, Latam snow white - pun intended - after they had slaughtered the local populations.
I cannot help but think that Latams are congenital liars as this forum continually reinforces that truism.
Funny, you english types, always pushing the conversation towards the Spaniards are big bad genocides, while not pointing out not even one of the many shats from your past.
Mar 03rd, 2016 - 11:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0BTW, since someone said that the Brits were so good people with the aboriginals they even wanted them to have some land, and that was one of the reasons USA went for independence, same thing happened down here.
As about the rest of the lies, they are complete misinformation, Argentina is not 97% white, travel to the interior, everyone is brown.
Only places where people are mostly white are the big cities, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, because inmigrants never got their lands granted, they ended up making a urban living instead of having farms.
I can find, however, more modern examples of British love for self determination. Like Chagos, and I know, I know your government is studying the viability of giving people they own freaking land back. Beats me.
#47
Mar 03rd, 2016 - 01:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why do you suppose we are pointing out the history of Latam settlers and colonialist. This is what YOU continually do against the British with a holier than thou bullshit attitude. We realise that you don't like us, verging on the edge of hatred. I for a start could not care less. You don't figure on our radar so moan away. It's all you can do.
@47 Only places where people are mostly white are the big cities, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, because inmigrants never got their lands granted, they ended up making a urban living instead of having farms.
Mar 03rd, 2016 - 01:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Someone who has never observed the landscape in Argentina and knows nothing of its history.
And the Falkland's are still British
Mar 03rd, 2016 - 08:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@47Lukedig
Mar 05th, 2016 - 12:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funny, you english types, always pushing the conversation towards “the Spaniards are big bad genocides”, while not pointing out not even one of the many shats from your past.
If it makes you happy we English are quite aware that our past has not been whiter than white and that the ex British empire committed many wrongs IN THE PAST which is where you are stuck.
The wrongs committed by Britain do NOT excuse the Spanish Empire of behaving much worse or the Argentines when they massacred Amerindians in the 19th century.
However, you still cannot say that in the last century that Britain murdered
30 000 of it's own people-Argentina did!
So whilst Britain's past has not always resulted in exemplary behaviour, Argentina under CFK wished to copy the worse colonial excesses of the ex-British empire.
By denying self determination and democracy for the Falkland Islanders,
a modern, post colonial right, Argentina base themselves in the 19th century, a pointless stance that Macri little by little appears to be abandoning.
I know, I know your government is “studying” the “viability” of giving people they own freaking land back
It's not quite as simple as that but you only bring up Chagos-so are the Bermudans, Antiguans, Pitcairn Islanders, Tristan Da Cunhans, Saint Helenians, etc etc denied self determination?
Was Scotland denied self determination?
Your mates Spain have denied the Catalonians the right to self determination, so as you criticise the UK, we can carry on hammering Argentina and it's parent country Spain all day to counter your feeble arguments.
Agreed.
Mar 05th, 2016 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 047# Only places where people are mostly white are the big cities, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, because ............
Mar 06th, 2016 - 01:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Because darkies aren't allowed on the bus in the big cities!
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