Falkland Islands

• Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 01:52 UTC

  Overwhelming turnout and YES vote in the Falklands referendum

  

  As was anticipated 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to maintain the current political status of the Islands as a British Overseas Territory, it was announced late Monday evening by the local electoral authorities.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 21:26 UTC

  Praise for Falklands’ population tolerance and criticism for Argentina’s approach

  

  ”I came to meet a peaceful population of sheep farmers and fishing people and they were not waiting for me to support them” but they have very strong and historic links with Uruguay, said lawmaker Jose Cardoso, who is currently in the Falklands to observe the referendum on the Islanders political status and future.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 20:25 UTC

  Uruguayan observer in Falklands’ referendum: “voting is a human right that supports freedom of expression”

  

  “Voting is a human right and electoral observation does not validate a thing, it is a simple act of analyzing if those conditions people have proposed for the ballot event, are fully complied” said Uruguayan lawmaker Jaime Trobo currently in the Falklands for the referendum on the Islands political status and future.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 18:35 UTC

  “The Falklands: a vote with no purpose”, says Ambassador Alicia Castro

  

  The following opinion column from Argentine ambassador Alicia Castro in UK was published Monday in The Guardian.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 18:16 UTC

  Commonwealth message: unlocking potential with innovation and excellence'.

  

  “What lies at the heart of our Commonwealth approach is individuals and communities finding ways to strive together to create a better future that is beneficial for all” said the official Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth message celebrated on Monday.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 08:29 UTC

  “Free association”, an option for the current Falklands’ dispute at UN

  

  There is no doubt that the Falkland Islanders have the right to self-determination, a visiting professor of politics told a public meeting held in the capital Stanley at the Chamber of Commerce last Friday.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 08:24 UTC

  Cameron pledges protection for the Falklands from Argentine intimidation and threats

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that Britain “will protect” the people of the Falkland Islands from the “intimidation and threats” of Argentina, which claims sovereignty of the South Atlantic archipelago

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 08:20 UTC

  Head of Argentine Lower House insists Falklands’ referendum has no international value

  

  The head of Argentina’s Lower House, Julián Domínguez, assured on Sunday that the referendum being carried out in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands is “another move by the English empire to continue justifying the illegal usurpation of land”.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 08:04 UTC

  Falklands and South Atlantic environment and geography information management system

  

  The South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) announced a new program: the South Atlantic Information Management System and GIS Centre, which officially brings together the UK South Atlantic Overseas Territories in SAERI’s South Atlantic scope that ranges from the equator down to the ice. The Centre is funded by the FCO via the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

• Monday, March 11th 2013 - 05:06 UTC

  Uruguay defence minister blasts Uruguayan observers at Falklands referendum

  

  Uruguay Minister of Defence Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro described as an “enormous shame” for the country the fact that two lawmakers from the leading opposition National party travelled to the Falklands/Malvinas to participate as observers of the Sunday/Monday referendum on the Islands political status and future.