All countries should accept the results of the Falklands’ referendum and support the Islanders as they continue to develop their home and their economy, said on Tuesday Foreign Secretary William Hague following on the overwhelming weekend vote to remain as a British Overseas Territory.
Despite frequent snow showers and zero temperatures, the celebratory party had already started on Arch Green in the centre of Port Stanley as the result of the Falklands’ referendum was a foregone conclusion, but the loud cheer that went up from the assembled gathering could be heard all over the town as the news filtered through that only 3 persons had voted against the Falklands remaining a self-governing dependent territory of Great Britain.
The International Observation Mission (RIOM) congratulated the Falklands for the ‘free and fair referendum process’ reflecting the democratic will of the Falkland Islanders voters, and for its execution in accordance with international standards and local laws.
As was anticipated 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to maintain the current political status of the Islands as a British Overseas Territory, it was announced late Monday evening by the local electoral authorities.
”I came to meet a peaceful population of sheep farmers and fishing people and they were not waiting for me to support them” but they have very strong and historic links with Uruguay, said lawmaker Jose Cardoso, who is currently in the Falklands to observe the referendum on the Islanders political status and future.
“Voting is a human right and electoral observation does not validate a thing, it is a simple act of analyzing if those conditions people have proposed for the ballot event, are fully complied” said Uruguayan lawmaker Jaime Trobo currently in the Falklands for the referendum on the Islands political status and future.
The following opinion column from Argentine ambassador Alicia Castro in UK was published Monday in The Guardian.
British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that Britain “will protect” the people of the Falkland Islands from the “intimidation and threats” of Argentina, which claims sovereignty of the South Atlantic archipelago
The head of Argentina’s Lower House, Julián Domínguez, assured on Sunday that the referendum being carried out in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands is “another move by the English empire to continue justifying the illegal usurpation of land”.
Uruguay Minister of Defence Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro described as an “enormous shame” for the country the fact that two lawmakers from the leading opposition National party travelled to the Falklands/Malvinas to participate as observers of the Sunday/Monday referendum on the Islands political status and future.