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Argentine literary critic says Falklands are British, sparks rejection and controversy

Thursday, August 5th 2021 - 09:59 UTC
Full article 31 comments

Statements by Argentine literary and cultural critic Beatriz Sarlo who Tuesday said that the Falkland Islands were “British territory” sparked nationwide controversies about which she defiantly warned she “cared very little.” Read full article

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  • Steve Potts

    The evidence suggests that the UN General Assembly is happy with the situation regarding the UK, Argentina and the Falklands.

    Aug 05th, 2021 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, the UN General Assembly incorporated the situation in Malvinas in their agenda to be called upon by one of its members, which shows they are not quite happy.

    Aug 05th, 2021 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse -3
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    The evidence suggests that the UN General Assembly is happy with the situation regarding the Falklands.

    Falklands -The Last UN Resolution (UNGA 43/25 of 7
    November 1988 (1 pg): https://www.academia.edu/50491466/Falklands_The_Last_UN_Resolution_UNGA_43_25_of_7_November_1988

    Aug 05th, 2021 - 11:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Roger Lorton

    An Anti-Malvinas Party?
    That's the way these people are now being described by the loons on social media.
    The malvinista mob is out for blood again. If Argentina ever did get ownership of the British Falkland Islands, what would they have to talk about?

    Aug 05th, 2021 - 11:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, The UN general Assembly have not treated the Malvinas colonial situation becouse of the madrid talks and the “sovereignty umbrella” as you quoted yourself in the link. However, the situation of the Malvinas remains today, in their provisional agenda, in each assembly, waiting for its call by one of its members. So, again, the UN is not happy, but as the UK and Argentina decided not to continue calling for the topic, no other resolutions were made. Why is the Malvinas situation still on the UNGA agenda if they are happy about it?.

    The evidence shows that the madrid talks only benefited Britain, that have never controlled the seas around the islands until 1982 and unilaterally created an economic zone to be exploited by them within the colonial regime.

    Lorton, How were treaty George Galloway or Jeremy Corvyn?. Or Alejandro Betts? or James Peck?. Both nations have fanatics and both nations have people that have different opinions on anything. Except in Malvinas of course. Live with it.

    Aug 05th, 2021 - 11:28 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • Guillote

    a minority think it, but they are very few

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 01:34 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • FitzRoy

    Liberato, what “colonial situation”?

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 08:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    Reasonable people present reasonable arguments not Argentinian government propaganda.

    The UN General Assembly:

    Between the end of the Falklands war in June 1982 and 1988, the UN General Assembly made calls every year for the Argentina and the UK to settle their differences in respect of the Falkland Islands. In 1989 this was achieved by the signing of the Madrid Agreements and which brought the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This agreement was further enhanced in 1999 by the London Agreements. The last time the UN General Assembly issued a resolution on the Falklands was Resolution 43/25 of 17th November 1988. It is a reasonable argument to say that as far as the UN General Assembly is concerned the matter is now closed.

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mike Summers

    Just nice to see the lady has felt she can express her opinion, whether you agree with her or not. As it happens I do. Not much surprise there.

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 04:24 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Liberato

    FitzRoy, “Liberato, what “colonial situation”?”. The colonial situation that the United Nations believes exist in the Malvinas islands today. Ergo, they are still on the list of ten territories under british colonialism in the UN process of decolonization.

    Steve Potts, “The UN General Assembly:”. They are not the words of the General Assembly but your own word. But, like i said as far as the UN General Assembly is concerned the matter remains on the provisional agenda to be called upon by any of its members. There are not a call by Argentina or the UK becouse of the madrid talks and the sovereignty umbrella, like i explained before.
    So resuming, why do you consider the question of the Malvinas to be closed by the General Assembly while the same body incorporated the topic in their provisional agenda each year?.

    Mike Summers. im more than sure that you have met with argentines in the islands that considered the islands british, or that considered them argentine but more “falklanders”, or whatever. So i doubt you have any surprise. The same happens in the UK, go ask people in the street if the islands should be british or argentine and im more than sure that many thinks they are argentines and that britain is there for oil or whatever.
    But the truth is that you already know this. Do i feel compasion or simpathy for Corvyn or Galloway that were many times insulted or screamed for his political ideals?. No. They have their opinions ideals and can change them easilly.
    I feel more simpathy for Alejandro Betts that was accused of treason and an islander threatened him to dead. The same with James Peck.
    It would be nice to see the kind of freedom this woman has in you colonial regime Mike Summers, but i doub it. You love the status quo.

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    The UN General Assembly is obviously happy with the current situation as they haven't bothered to issue a Falklands resolution since 1988. Common sense really especially when self-determination is an inalienable right.

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 06:05 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Mike Summers

    Neither Betts nor Peck were ever threatened to my knowledge. We know Betts so claimed, but it was fabricated to hide his own deficiencies. The Islanders have determined their own status, and that is the only way this so called dispute will every be resolved. An Argentine aspiration to colonise the Islands is doomed to failure, and serves only as a convenient political distraction from some rather painful realities. Good afternoon.

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 06:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, i think you didnt understood. Again, there is no Malvinas resolution by a decision of the UK and Argentina not to call in the General Assembly for the question of the islands to be treated. Having said that, for the UN, as it is a matter that continue to be unresolved, they keep the topic on their agenda for the future to be treated.

    Mike Summers, Of course that is what you say. There is no way to prove what you say or what they say. James Peck denounced misstreatment by the hospital to her wife for being argentinean, discrimination against her, etc. An argentine in the mainland had denounced in the past being left aside a property she inherit there from a british that lived in the islands and died.
    Other argentines claimed they were put in jail for having a shirt with the argentine colours. Other argentine that went in a sailboat were obligued to retire any argentine flag style objects arguing it would cause panic and would force the police to take him into custody.
    So, this is how “turist” of your “neighbour” claim to be treated in the colonial regime. There is no way to prove it of course, but as the islands current status are of a non self-governing territorie under a UN decolonization process there is not much i can do to prove these guys wrong.

    “The Islanders have determined...”. Who are the Islanders?. the governor, ( born in Britain), the chief fire officer (born in Britain), Principal Immigration Officer and Officer in charge of Stanley Prison (born in Britain), Tom Hill appointed as director of education (also born in Europe, in Britain), the Senior Dental Officer, Contracted in London with the advantage of becoming resident : //dentistry.co.uk/jobs/senior-dental-officer-falkland-islands-2/, the police is almost entirelly composed by people born in Europe(Britain) and not in Malvinas.
    Three “legislative” members.

    So you plant on the C24 declaring that Argentina wants to “colonise” a territory inhabitated by a people different from Britain?

    Aug 06th, 2021 - 10:14 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
  • Guillote

    the question would be if someone in the islands can think differently?
    they all work for the FIC or for the government.
    and you can't show a flag that you don't like.
    How can you think differently?
    igual no me interesa la respuesta...porque se cual es

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 03:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Swede

    @Liberato: With such a small resident population and isolated position they of course have to recruit professionals and experts from other parts of the world. It is only natural. The F.I is in area and population comparable with the municipality of Arjeplog in northern Sweden. But there they do not need to have a complete set up of public services as they more easily can travel to other places. And as the majority of people in the F.I. are English speakers and have great affinity with the U.K. they of course recruit those experts from the U.K. and in some cases from other Commonwealth or English-speaking countries. The last place they want them to come from is Argentina, for obvious reasons, linguistical, historical and political. The Spanish-speaking part of the population is of Chilean origin. So it is better to recruit from there if they need Spanish speakers.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 09:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    You are clutching at straws...

    Any reasonable person can see that the UN General Assembly is now happy with the UK re the Falkland Islands. The basis of the resolution UNGA 43/25 of 7 November 1988 was achieved with the restoration of diplomatic resolutions and other agreements concerning fisheries and flights. You only have to compare the UN General Assembly with Israel/Palestine since 1988 where the UN has passed 9 x General Assembly Resolutions and x 52 Security Council Resolutions since 1988.

    As the Secretary-General of the UN said, “I don’t think Security Council members are violating relevant UN resolutions…’’ Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General of the UN MercoPress.com/2012/11/12 ).

    As far as the General Assembly is concerned the matter is closed.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 09:55 am - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Swede

    The reaction from Argentine government officials is a sign of that country's absurd obsession with the “Malvinas question”. Many countries have territorial disputes, but few make them so big and important in everyday life as Argentina. If a British literary critic should say something like “We can give Falklands to Argentina, it does not matter” I do not think he or she would get such attention and be so blamed. I do not think the Foreign minister would comment it at all. And there is of course no equivalent of Sr. Filmus and his secretariat in the U.K. But in Argentina Malvinism is a kind of religion an to deny it is like blasphemy.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 12:59 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Liberato

    Swede, It is not a matter of size. It is a matter of colonialism. If a person in charge of customs and inmigration was born in Britain and has to decide whether to grant or deny permits of residence. Do you think it would favour Britain or Argentina?.
    If half the population on the islands were born in Britain or its bots, Do you think it will choose to remain part of the UK or Argentina?.
    If the population has a 97.9% of british origins. Do you think they would favour to remain part of the UK or Argentina?.
    Do you know that Britain was willing to recognize argentine sovereignty on many occasions?. Do you know that it did not happened not for the lobby of the people living there but for the feudal Falkland Islands Company?.

    Steve Potts, For ten times, I respect your view that you think the question of Malvinas is closed for the General Assembly. But again, for me, it is not closed.The question of the Malvinas situation is in each year GA agenda. Why would they keep incorporated the topic if it was closed?. Have they forgotten to remove it?.

    The only relevants UN resolutions Ban Ki-Moon referred to are those who are binding made in the Security Council, where the UK has a veto power.

    Swede, are you kidding me?. Jeremy Corbyn was bastarded only for saying the UK should talk to Argentina. Do you want me to call many newspapers headlines or right wing british polititians?.
    I only readed mr Filmus talking about it but perhaps you can show me who are the rest of the religious fanatics malvinist that reacted?.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 02:16 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    As you said, ''But again, for me, it is not closed.''
    Any reasonable person can see that the UN General Assembly is now happy with the UK re the Falkland Islands. The basis of the resolution UNGA 43/25 of 7 November 1988 was achieved with the restoration of diplomatic resolutions and other agreements concerning fisheries and flights. You only have to compare the UN General Assembly with Israel/Palestine since 1988 where the UN has passed 9 x General Assembly Resolutions and x 52 Security Council Resolutions since 1988.

    As the Secretary-General of the UN said, “I don’t think Security Council members are violating relevant UN resolutions…’’ Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General of the UN MercoPress.com/2012/11/12 ).

    As far as the General Assembly is concerned the matter is closed.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 03:15 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, UNGA 43/25. Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)57
    The General Assembly,
    Having considered the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and having received the report of the Secretary-Genera1,58 Aware of the interest of the international community in
    the peaceful and definitive settlement by the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of all their differences, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Taking note of the interest repeatedly expressed by both parties in normalizing their relations, Convinced that such purpose would be facilitated by a
    global negotiation between both Governments that will allow them to rebuild mutual confidence on a solid basis and to resolve the pending problems, including all aspects on
    the future of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas),
    1. Reiterates its request to the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to initiate negotiations with a view to finding
    the means to resolve peacefully and definitively the problems pending between both countries, including all aspects on the future of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;
    2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his renewed mission of good offices in order to assist the parties in complying with the request made in paragraph 1
    above, and to take the necessary measures to that end;
    3. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present
    resolution;
    4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session the item entitled ”Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)“.
    54th plenary meeting
    17 November 1988

    So?, What point of the resolution says that the matter is closed?. Or is the common opinion of a ”reasonable person?”.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Steve Potts

    Any reasonable person can see that the UN General Assembly is now happy with the UK re the Falkland Islands. The basis of the resolution UNGA 43/25 of 7 November 1988 was achieved with the restoration of diplomatic resolutions and other agreements concerning fisheries and flights. You only have to compare the UN General Assembly with Israel/Palestine since 1988 where the UN has passed 9 x General Assembly Resolutions and x 52 Security Council Resolutions since 1988.

    As the Secretary-General of the UN said, “I don’t think Security Council members are violating relevant UN resolutions…’’ Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General of the UN MercoPress.com/2012/11/12 ).

    NO UN Resolutions since 1988 so it is reasonable for a sane person to understand that as far as the General Assembly is concerned - the matter is closed.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 04:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve, how can the GA makes more resolutions if Argentina and the UK told them they will not invoke the question of the Malvinas?. What can the General Assembly say?: You will not invoke the question in the assembly but untill a definite solution exist we will keep the question of the Malvinas situation in our agenda!.
    But dont trust me, it is my opinion only. So good luck with that convincing other “reasonable” people here.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 04:54 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Steve Potts

    There is nothing to stop Argentina or the C24 putting a Falklands resolution up to the General Assembly for a vote by members.

    As the Secretary-General of the UN said, “I don’t think Security Council members are violating relevant UN resolutions…’’ Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General of the UN MercoPress.com/2012/11/12 ).

    NO UN Resolutions since 1988 so it is reasonable for a sane person to understand that as far as the General Assembly is concerned - the matter is closed.
    .

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 05:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, “There is nothing to stop Argentina or the C24 putting a Falklands resolution....”. Yes, the decision by the UK and Argentina in the Madrid talks not to present the case to the assembly.
    What the secretary general of the UN said has absolutely nothing to do with the General Assembly. The 40 resolutions of the UNGA regarding Malvinas are not binding, so there is not a force that can sit the UK to the negotiation table. The same with the ICj advisory opinion regarding Diego Garcia islands that requested the UK to restore the island to Mauritius.
    So, Argentina can easilly invoke the question of the Malvinas islands in the General assembly, becouse it is in the UNGA agenda for that reason. but, as Argentina decided with the UK on not doing it, thats the reason no one called on it.
    I really dont know how other way to explain it to you. But i guess you win by tiredness.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 06:04 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Steve Potts

    Argentina decided to drop the matter and not pursue their Falklands grievance through the UN General Assembly (probably realizing that they would lose a vote by the membership) but to pursue their grievances through the C24.

    Quote: '' The 40 resolutions of the UNGA regarding Malvinas are not binding'' - What 40 resolutions?

    You only have to look at the wording of UNGA 43/25 of 7 November 1988 - No mention of sovereignty negotiations. It was to encourage an end to hostilities and that was achieved in respect of the restoration of diplomatic relations; fisheries agreements and allowing Argentinians to visit the islands.

    The evidence already provided suggests that as far as the General Assembly is concerned the matter is closed.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Liberato

    Steve Potts, “Argentina decided to drop the matter ”???. “probably realizing that they would lose a vote by the membership”????.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Swede

    “there is not a force that can sit the UK to the negotiation table” For years (if not decades) the Special Committee has been talking about “ finding a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute as soon as possible”. But what is really a “peaceful solution”? It has been a de facto peace in the area for more than 39 years now. And the BFSAI are the peace-keeping force deterring Argentina from doing something stupid once again. What is there to “negotiate” about? Time and procedure for the hand-over of the islands are the only things Argentina can discuss. But that is of course not a “peaceful solution” in the eyes of the people living there. No. The only way to get a lasting peace in the region is for Argentina to drop the claim and negotiate a new “Convention of Settlement” to “re-establish the perfect relations of friendship” as in 1849. Just nagging and nagging and nagging year after year will give them nothing.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 09:25 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Liberato

    Swede, how a world power convince its citizens and soldiers to go to die in the foreign fighting a nation that did never atacked them?. I personally, like to think im willing to defend my nation or our neighbours that are brother nations, becouse we share history and the future together. But going to Iraq for instance, Libya, Syria,etc. Do you know who created Saddam Hussein?, No?. But do you know he had no weapons of mass destruction right?. Do you know where British Petroleum is taking its oil from?.
    So, what you describe as a “de facto” peace (a term ive never heard of), you are describing Iraq and the ocupation force that are robbing Iraq from its natural resources after having killed MILLONS of civilians in the previous invasion and war.
    It is not my idea of exagerate nor anything, but when everybody tells you you will go to war to defend freedom, liberty or the western way of life elsewhere. Or when people tells you, about a de facto peace, think twice before repeating it. For the rest of the world, you will look very stupid.

    Aug 07th, 2021 - 11:06 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Swede

    Argentina, maybe not a “world power”, in 1982 “convinced its citizens and soldiers to go to die in the foreign fighting an archipelago that did never attack them”. And its government still continues to tell its citizens it was the right thing to do. They celebrate 2nd of April (1982) as a date to be proud of. Germany, on the other hand, has learned the lesson and do certainly not celebrate 1st of September (1939) as “The Day of the Heroes of the Polish Campaign” or something like that. That country has dropped the claims (even for territories lost as recently as 1918 and 1945) and have peaceful relations with their neighbours, even Poland. Something for Argentina to think about?

    Aug 08th, 2021 - 06:05 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Steve Potts

    Liberato

    Argentina ultimately decided not to pursue her Malvinas mythical claim via the General Assembly.

    Probably realizing that she would lose a vote in the General Assembly - You forget that the Cold War ended in 1989/90 and all of those countries that traditionally voted alongside the Soviet Union were free to make their own choice. Are you forgetting the Fourth Committee vote in 2008 when Argentina tried via the C24 to put restrictions on the right to self-determination and lost?

    YOU SAID Quote: '' The 40 resolutions of the UNGA regarding Malvinas are not binding'' - What 40 resolutions?

    NO UN Resolutions since 1988 so it is reasonable for a sane person to understand that as far as the General Assembly is concerned - the matter is closed.

    Aug 08th, 2021 - 11:41 am - Link - Report abuse +1
  • Pugol-H

    https://en.mercopress.com/2012/11/12/ban-ki-moon-and-colonialism-people-should-be-able-to-decide-their-own-future

    Aug 09th, 2021 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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