Falkland Islands

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 04:39 UTC

  “We can never accept the Argentine government’s challenge to Falklands self-determination”

  

  “We will always maintain our commitment to you on any question of sovereignty because your right to self-determination is the cornerstone of our policy”, said British Prime Minister David Cameron in his Christmas message to the Falkland Islands.

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 04:36 UTC

  UK Defence denies London press rumours of a Falklands military build-up

  

  After statements published by the English newspaper “The Daily Mail,” in which the former head of the Navy, Lord Alan West, said that a nuclear submarine should be sent to the Malvinas Islands, the United Kingdom assured it does not plan to increase the military presence in the Islands.

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 04:33 UTC

  HMS Illustrious ready to take over as on-call helicopter carrier from HMS Ocean

  

  As when she first joined the Fleet in 1982, HMS Illustrious has once again been formally welcomed into the bosom of the Royal Navy with a rededication ceremony at sea. The aircraft carrier held the ceremony as she returned from Hamburg - the ship's first visit to a foreign port in more than two years.

• Friday, December 23rd 2011 - 04:31 UTC

  Help thy neighbour: in the Falkland Islands charity begins at home

  

  The reception held on Wednesday at the Falkland Islands Government House to recognise the community work of Capt. Andrew Brownlee, who earlier this year in Buckingham Palace was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, and the announcements this week from two local charities that recent events had raised over £17,000 from within the community, highlight a tight-knit community where charity begins at home and people are more than willing to give up their time and contribute to helping their neighbour.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 21:02 UTC

  Hague and Almagro to discuss Falklands’ flagged vessels restrictions on Friday

  

  Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague and Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro will discuss the Falklands/Malvinas flagged vessels issue on Friday according to a release from the British embassy in Montevideo

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina will have an ambassador in London next year, says Cristina Fernandez

  

  “Very soon we are going to have an ambassador in the United Kingdom” announced Argentine president Cristina Fernandez. The post has remained vacant since 2008 and the announcement comes in the midst of a new round of the ongoing dispute with the UK over the Falklands and other South Atlantic Islands sovereignty.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 20:59 UTC

  Uruguay Navy says there is no legal impediment for Falklands’ flagged vessels to operate in Montevideo

  

  A report from the Uruguayan Coast Guard argues there is no legislation impeding Falklands/Malvinas flagged vessels from operating in the port of Montevideo. The report was handed to the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is drafting a protocol regarding what ships can and which can’t access Uruguayan ports.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 14:14 UTC

  Controversial plans to excavate Falklands’ conflict battlefields in 2012 are abandoned

  

  The proposal, reported by “The Scotsman” newspaper earlier this month, of television archaeologist and University of Glasgow academic, Dr. Tony Pollard to excavate the battlefields of the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict next year during the 30th Anniversary of the conflict have been abandoned.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 14:13 UTC

  Falkland Islands Councillors opt for continuity in portfolio responsibilities

  

  Following the election last week of two new members to the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands, MLA Dr Barry Elsby and MLA Ian Hansen, councillors have favoured stability and continuity in the allocation of portfolio responsibility, with the newly elected councillors largely taking on the responsibilities left vacant by the resignation of former members, Emma Edwards and Bill Luxton.

• Thursday, December 22nd 2011 - 04:57 UTC

  Former First Sea Lord suggests sending a nuclear sub to protect the Falklands

  

  A former British First Sea Lord (2002-2006) and Commander during the South Atlantic conflict stated that Britain should respond to the Mercosur bloc’s decision to close their ports to ships that fly the Falklands/Malvinas flag, by sending a nuclear submarine to protect the Islands, the Telegraph newspaper reported Wednesday.