The Falkland Islands government has started to prepare the list of issues that will have to be addressed for the organization of next year’s referendum on the political statute of the Islands, particularly the drafting of the question, inviting overseas observers and contracting a specialist to manage the whole operation.
Following on the successful experience of this year’s attendance at the UN Decolonization committee, the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly is looking for young Islanders interested in representing the Falklands’ at another political event.
Spain made a calm but classic contribution before the United Nations Decolonization Committee (C24) last week defending territorial integrity arguments but also warning the Committee not to de-list Gibraltar without sticking to the current UN criteria.
Spain is scared to test its “feeble claims” in Court, whether in respect of Gibraltar’s undisputable right to self determination or its undisputable waters. That was the charge made by Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on Friday before the United Nations Committee of 24 as he challenged Madrid to take these issues to the appropriate international courts.
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.
Reacting to the massive media campaign displayed by Argentina, UK UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant revealed that it was President Cristina Fernandez who requested US the Decolonization Committee to schedule the annual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas status on the anniversary of Britain’s victory 14 June 1982.
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.
A group of young Falkland Islanders hope to present Argentine President Cristina Fernandez with a firm message at the UN in New York that they want to remain British subjects and continue their current way of life.
Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli said on Monday that the United Kingdom maintains its “arrogance and haughtiness” over the Malvinas sovereignty issue as the 30th anniversary of the end of the war approaches.