A UK member of Parliament has come out strongly in support of the British Overseas Territories praising their economic success and the right of their peoples to govern and decide their own future. MP Andrew Rosindell, Chairman of the BOT and Crown Dependencies all party Parliamentary groups described suggestions from some senior figures in Westminster calling for 'direct rule' over BOT's as unnecessary and unjust, based on a complete misunderstanding of the situation.
Gibraltar and Falkland Islands flatly deny any “colonial situations” as was referred to by the foreign ministers of Spain and Argentina, and regret profoundly that two large countries with democratic credentials “seek to gang up to bully two very small territories and in the process completely ignore the right of their people to choose what they want to be”.
Argentina’s Army Chief Diego Luis Suner said on Saturday that the “Malvinas cause” continues to be a “national, standing and inalienable objective” of the Argentine people. The statement was made on the 34th anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict that was triggered by the Argentine military invasion of the Falklands in 1982.
”There's not going to be a single day in the four years of (President Mauricio Macri) government in which we will not continue to fight for our rights in the South Atlantic”, said Argentine Interior minister Rogelio Frigerio during the April 2 commemoration of Malvinas war veteran and Fallen Day in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MoD) has rubbished claims that the Falkland Islands have been left without protection, due to the absence of a British warship (frigate or destroyer) permanently based in the south Atlantic. The MoD defended itself following reports that the Falkland Islands were without the protection of a British frigate or destroyer for the first time since the conflict in 1982.
The Malvinas Islands remain inexorably Argentine said president Mauricio Macri in a message in the social networks aired following the tribute to the Malvinas war veterans at the cenotaph in central Buenos Aires and later meeting with officers and veterans at the Olivos residence.
British PM David Cameron told Argentine president Mauricio Macri that the “Malvinas question will be included” as part of the bilateral talks with Argentina, according to Argentine foreign secretary Susana Malcorra. Apparently before Macri returned to Argentina Friday night from the nuclear security summit in Washington, he held a 'brief encounter' on request from PM Cameron.
Falkland Islands provided twenty five Argentine nationals with humanitarian aid (food, warmth and shelter) following the announcement of a week long delay to their return flight to Chile. The group was made up of marathon runners and associates who came to the Islands on March 19 and participated in the Sunday Standard Chartered bank Stanley Marathon. The competition was won by Argentine athlete Rafael Lencina in record time.
A Gibraltarian expert on self determination has rubbished Argentine claims that the decision by a UN Commission to extend Argentina's continental shelf to include the waters that surround the Falklands and South Georgia will be key in the dispute with Britain over the Islands.
The Falkland Islands community bid farewell to two Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopters today after over three decades of service. Both the two RAF Sea King helicopters were brought to the capital Stanley today for the local community to say goodbye, as well as meet the crew who man the aircraft. The new AAR helicopter, which will replace the existing RAF SAR service, was also present at the farewell today.