Ships from the Falkland Islands that are barred from ports in Argentina and other Mercosur trade bloc countries can re-flag as British ships at any time to avoid the ban, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
Foreign Secretary William Hague during a major speech on foreign policy in Brazil said that the UK will always uphold sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the rights of the Islanders to self determination.
Britain nowadays is not a colonialist country and Argentina should leave the Falkland and its people in peace and respect their right to self determination, said Falklands elected member of the Legislative Assembly Dick Sawle quoted in the Argentine media.
Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman assured that Argentina’s strategy on the Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim “is working” and added that “the only way for England to get out of this mess is through direct negotiations with Argentina.”
A British newspaper revealed that the UK Prime Minister’s accusations of ‘colonialism’ against Argentina came after being warned that “Buenos Aires was plotting a mock fishermen’s invasion” of the Falkland Islands.
Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman echoed the statements made by UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron in which he accused Argentina of colonialism, and counter attacked by saying that “it catches one’s attention to hear such statements when Great Britain and Colonialism are synonymous.”
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague praised Brazil's growing economic and political power as he opened two days of talks with the country's leaders, and also assured that British policy on the Falkland Islands will not change despite pressure from Argentina.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has accused Argentina of colonialism over the country's claim to the Falkland Islands. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Cameron vowed to protect the Islands' population and allow them to decide their own future.
The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose”, with a crew of 185 made a several days patrol visit to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, GSSI, waters in December.
FOR only the second time in recent years, on January 14 the Falkland Islands Government refused permission for a cruise ship to land its passengers in the islands' capital, Stanley. The ship in question was the Star Princess which had 2,608 passengers aboard.