
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.

By Rebecca Kendall (*) - It has been 30 years since the war over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands ended, but the question of sovereignty in the Islands, located 248 miles off the coast of Argentina, is still very much fresh in the minds of those closest to the issue, including Argentina’s Ambassador to the United States Jorge Argüello.

Argentine President Cristina Fernández praised the appointment of British citizen Guy Rider as the head of the International Labour Organization because for the first time in history, the president of the International Labour Organization, ILO is a worker.

The Gibraltar Government reacted to the outcome of the meeting between the British and Spanish foreign ministers on Tuesday in London saying that it is pleased that “it is recognised and accepted by all parties that only Gibraltar has the jurisdictional competence to deal with the issues that arise in respect of the on-going breaches of the Nature Protection Act in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.”

Spain and the UK will join forces against attacks on their companies in Latin America, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo said, following a meeting on Tuesday in London with his counterpart William Hague.

Gibraltar figures importantly on the agenda for a Tuesday meeting scheduled in London between Foreign Secretary William Hague and Spanish counterpart Jose Garcia-Margallo particularly following on the recent fishing incidents and the long queues being imposed at the border by Spanish authorities.

Argentine wine exports to the UK have rocketed by 25% in value and 12% in volume in the first three months of the year. This put the UK back ahead of Brazil as Argentina’s third largest market worldwide, and the US and Canada, and represents the largest gains for over four years.

UK reassured support for Gibraltar following Wednesday night’s incident when several Spanish Guardia Civil vessels and a helicopter were involved in a tense standoff with the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Navy while the Spanish trawlers tried to cast nets in the Rock’s bay.