The chair of the UN Decolonisation Committee Ecuadorian ambassador Diego Morejón Pazmiño described the UK announcement of a referendum in the Malvinas Islands as a “political ploy”, insisting that the Falkland Islanders can not appeal to the right of self determination.
The Falkland Islands Government is “incredibly disappointed” that despite claims from Argentine president Cristina Fernandez, before the United Nations, of “only wanting to sit down and discuss about Falklands”, her government rejected point blank an invitation to dialogue.
The Falkland Islands fishing industry is taking steps are to establish a licensed fishery for grenadier for an initial period of three years. In 2009 the option of converting the grenadier fishery from exploratory status to an ITQ fishery was considered, but not progressed.
A letter from the Falkland Islands government inviting the Argentine government to enter into a dialogue and which was to be delivered directly to President Cristina Fernandez’ delegation during the Decolonization Committee debate was frustrated by the passivity of the C24 chair and by Foreign Minister Hector Timerman.
In a strong speech claiming sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas issue addressing the UN Decolonization Committee, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez called on the UK “to leave this history of colonialism behind and start building a new history based on dialogue” but at the same time blasted the recent announcement of a referendum in the Islands do decide on their political status.
In his speech to the UN Decolonization Committee MLA Mike Summers recalled that Article 1 of the UN Charter sets out the importance of respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of all peoples, which Argentina ignores and the Commission, which tries to be neutral, does not express this in its resolutions.
The first petitioner for the Falkland Islands MLA Roger Edwards before the UN Decolonization Committee said that Argentina claims to fight against colonialism yet wishes to annex the Islands and “subject our people to alien subjugation and domination”, which is the very definition of colonialism.
On the thirtieth anniversary of its liberation from Argentine occupation (June 14), the Falkland Islands was given its biggest boost by any British Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher.
As the Falkland Islands commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Falkland Islands, a seventh generation Islander explains the significance of Liberation Day to the people of the Falklands.
UK Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne has spoken of his admiration for the Falkland Islands people on the thirtieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Falklands conflict.