The United Nations Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) began its general debate on decolonization and related items on Monday, with many speakers emphasizing the need to resolve the questions of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, more than six decades after the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Falklands/Malvinas case was speared by Brazil in representation of Mercosur, while as usual the Spanish representative criticized the Gibraltar situation.
In a move that will no doubt be greeted favorably in Buenos Aires, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded on Wednesday that Britain give up control over the Chagos Islands.
”We have a right to live in peace, in freedom and to determine our own future”. “We have a right to live in peace, we have a right to our freedom and above all we have a right to determine our own future”, Falkland Islands elected lawmaker, MLA Ian Hansen told the United Nations decolonization committee or C24 on Wednesday, in New York.
Members from the opposition addressed a letter to President Cristina Fernandez recommending that in the coming UN General Assembly Argentina presents a resolution-draft calling for the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim to be discussed in the assembly and not at the Decolonization Committee or C24.
The British Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council this week agreed a joint statement underscoring a shared commitment to self-determination. The Falklands were represented at the council by lawmakers Jan Cheek and Sharon Halford.
The Argentine government confirmed on Tuesday through a letter sent by Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly President, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, that Argentina had accepted the mediation offer in order to find a pacific solution with the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands.
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez gave instructions for the formal complaint before the United Nations accusing the United Kingdom of ‘militarization’ of the South Atlantic and Malvinas Islands be presented on Friday, according to a release from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We would like nothing better than to have a peaceful coexistence with Argentina”, said Falkland Islands Member of the Legislative Assembly Gavin Short addressing the UN Decolonization Committee.