Due to adverse weather, the timings for the two events which were due to take place in the Falkland Islands later this month on the occasion of the visit of HRH The Princess Royal Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence took place on Tuesday in Stanley.
Rockhopper Exploration and Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd have confirmed a significant oil discovery at the Isobel/Elaine project to the north of the Falkland Islands. According to a release from the companies the new 14/20-2 well was a ‘re-drill’ of the prior Isobel Deep well which had to be abandoned prematurely due to operational issues despite encountering oil.
The United Kingdom has reiterated that the sovereignty of Gibraltar is not a matter for discussion or negotiation with Spain. This follows a call by the Spanish Foreign Ministry for a resumption of bilateral dialogue with the UK over Gibraltar.
Falkland Oil and Gas PLC late Tuesday took a step closer to completing the proposed all-share merger with fellow AIM-listed Rockhopper Exploration PLC after its shareholders voted in favour of the deal.
An Argentine flagged sailing vessel, “Galileo” left on Sunday from Mar del Plata for an 18 days tour of the South Atlantic following the path of the Argentine navy and merchant vessels during the 1982 conflict. In a later expedition plans are for “Galileo” to reach the Falkland Islands.
Argentina's January 3rd. statement on the Falkland Islands dispute claiming sovereignty and calling for dialogue with the United Kingdom has received a low key but strong response from the Foreign Office, according to the Mail on line.
Federico Lorenz, considered one of Argentina's foremost experts on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands issue and author of multiple works on their history, will take the reins as the interim director of the Malvinas Islands Museum in the latest in a far-reaching shuffle of key cultural positions in President Mauricio Macri’s new administration.
President Mauricio Macri's government reaffirmed on Sunday, 3 January, Argentina's sovereignty rights over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands on the 183 anniversary of the 'British occupation of the archipelago' in the South Atlantic, and called for dialogue with the United Kingdom. In a statement published in the Foreign Ministry site it said that “Argentina renews its commitment to the peaceful solution of controversies, to international law to and multilateralism”.
Mercosur full and associate members ended their Paraguay summit signing six joint statements, one of which in support of Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and rejecting 'non authorized' hydrocarbons exploration in the Argentine continental shelf. This is the first regional document related to the Falkland Islands Argentine claim since Mauricio Macri took office last 10 December.
The United Nations was “royally deceived”, said Falkland Islands Member of Legislative Assembly Mike Summers in response to Argentina celebrating the 50th anniversary of a UN resolution that recognised the existence of a sovereignty dispute over the Falklands.