UK Prime Minister David Cameron praised the planned Falkland Islands referendum over its sovereignty as he warned their views do matter and told Argentina not to ignore them.
British Foreign Minister David Lidington condemned on Wednesday the actions of Argentina against the Falkland Islands claiming they were not those of a 'responsible' country.
By MLA Gavin Short (*) - The following piece was published on Wednesday’s edition of The Guardian. Thirty years on from the liberation of the Falklands, a referendum on our political future will send a clear signal to the world
The London-based South Atlantic Council today made a call “for a new understanding of sovereignty” thirty years after the cease-fire that ended hostilities between Britain and Argentina.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez leaves Wednesday at 19.00 hours for New York where on Thursday afternoon she is scheduled to address the UN Decolonization Committee claiming sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas and other South Atlantic Islands as well as demand discussions with the UK over the future of those territories.
Argentine ruling coalition lawmakers rejected point blank the referendum on the Falkland Islands’ political status announced for 2013 by the Falklands elected government, and claimed it was a media stunt to distract attention from Argentine president Cristina Fernandez presentation before the UN Decolonization committee.
The US has stated that it will remain neutral in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, said the spokesperson of the US State Department’s Victoria Nuland after the announcement that the Islanders will hold a referendum in 2013 to decided whether they want to remain British or not.
As the years pass, Veterans and Islanders alike who were caught up in the Falklands War, are getting older; many, regrettably are no longer with us. Age takes its toll, and sadly a number of potential guests declined due to failing health, reads the message from Lewis Clifton OBE, Chairman of the 2012 Committee.
Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne pledged UK respect for the results of the Falkland Islands referendum to be held next year, and called on all governments who prize democracy and human rights to do likewise.
The Falkland Islands Government announced on Tuesday its intention to hold a referendum next year on the political status of the Falklands to clearly express Islanders views and counter Argentina’s misleading rhetoric including that “we are held hostage by the UK military”.