Latinamerican countries expressed on Thursday their full support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas, during the 43 annual assembly of the Organization of American States taking place in Guatemala. Only Canada was against the OAS final declaration while the United States did not take position on the matter.
To mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation in 1982, the elected government of the Islands has arranged the following program for Friday 14 June 2013.
Falkland Oil and Gas (FOGL) reported Thursday the completion of a 3D survey over its Southern Area licenses offshore the Falkland Islands. FOGL said the survey aimed to target a number of prospects and leads immediately to the west and northwest of the Darwin condensate discovery.
Lawmaker Jaime Trobo invited his peers in the Lower House to review the Uruguayan government’s position regarding the Malvinas Islands and without questioning Argentine sovereignty, establish close trade and human links with the Islanders, as in the past, eliminating the ‘sanitary ring’ imposed by the current Argentine government.
For the first time the Falkland Islands have underlined the significance of the hydrocarbons industry as a fully integrated sector of the local economy as it effectively and successfully moves from the exploration to the exploitation stage with first shipments scheduled for 2017. At the same time it regrets that South American companies are not participating of the logistical opportunities because of Argentine interference.
Argentine tourists have staged a British invasion, with record numbers flying in to the UK in the last year, according to an article by Matt Chorley published in the Daily Mail. The influx of more than 100.000 visitors, up more than a quarter year-on-year, comes despite renewed tensions between the two countries over the status of the Falkland Islands.
Donald Lamont, a former British ambassador and former governor of the Falkland Islands took over as chairman of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. He replaces Philippa Foster Back, who retires from the position having served as trustee since 2000 and chair for the past seven years.
Gibraltar veteran Minister Joe Bossano launched a scathing attack on to the record of the UN Committee of Decolonization or C24 claiming it is consistently falling to do the work it is tasked with: decolonising the territories on its list.
The Specialist Oil & Gas Advisor for the Falkland Islands Government (FIG), Anne Drinkwater has stated that the Falkland Islands are an attractive location for the oil and gas industry and has praised FIG five year plan which sets the desired economic and social context for development generally.
Falkland Islands Government Director of Natural Resources John Barton said that he is confident that there won’t be any repetition in the future of recent offences by companies licensed to fish in Falklands waters.