Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne pledged UK respect for the results of the Falkland Islands referendum to be held next year, and called on all governments who prize democracy and human rights to do likewise.
A group of young Falkland Islanders hope to present Argentine President Cristina Fernandez with a firm message at the UN in New York that they want to remain British subjects and continue their current way of life.
Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli said on Monday that the United Kingdom maintains its “arrogance and haughtiness” over the Malvinas sovereignty issue as the 30th anniversary of the end of the war approaches.
Foreign Minister Jeremy Browne begins this Monday a four day visit to the Falkland Islands, the thirtieth anniversary of the conclusion of the South Atlantic conflict and in a brief message pointed out that thirty years after the conflict the Falklands’ people are being forced to defend themselves once more this time from “the policies of coercion and intimidation” by the current Argentine government.
UK Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne turned down on Friday an invitation sent by Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman to visit Argentina. Timerman had hoped to meet with the UK government official in Buenos Aires when Browne makes his trip to the Falkland Islands next week.
New Zealanders have been misinformed about the battle for the Falkland Islands between Great Britain and Argentina in 1982, the South American country's ambassador to New Zealand has told an audience in Palmerston North.
The UK regretted as ‘misfortunate” and “strange” the announced attendance of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez next week to the UN Decolonisation Committee to claim sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.
The UK ratified on Tuesday the Falkland Islands people’s self determination following a resolution from the OAS general assembly taking place in Bolivia calling on the two sides (Argentina and UK) to resume dialogue on the sovereignty of the Islands which are claimed by Argentina.
The United Kingdom gave its full support to the companies involved in oil and gas exploration in Falkland Islands waters, following Argentina’s announcement on Monday it was beginning legal actions against five companies committed to “illegal” and “clandestine” exploration activities in the disputed Malvinas waters.
Argentina declared on Monday the oil exploration by UK-listed companies in Falkland Islands waters “illegal” and their activities “clandestine”. Argentina has long claimed the Falklands/Malvinas as part of its territory.