 Britain has written to the United Nations restating its sovereignty over the Falklands, as Argentina escalates attempts to gain international support for its claim over the islands. The Foreign Office has confirmed that ministers contacted the UN after counterparts in Buenos Aires managed to reopen the sovereignty issue.
| I thought that was settled finally a few years back? |
Officials have also written to the Organisation of American States (OAS), which last month supported talks between Britain and Argentina to solve the "Malvinas Islands" dispute peacefully. At the OAS general assembly in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, the organisation voted to approve an Argentine declaration to "continue exploring all possible means to solve the problem peacefully". The organisation said Argentina and Britain "must begin talks about the sovereignty dispute as soon as possible".
| They're making the assumption the problem's not solved because they haven't gotten their way... |
Argentine foreign minister Jorge Taiana said his country's president, Nestor Kirchner, pledged that the Argentine people were committed to winning back sovereignty of the islands as soon as possible, and would begin talks in good faith with Britain. He drove the point home during a meeting with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. He claimed Annan had "agreed to look at" possible solutions to the disagreement." The UN's Special Committee on decolonisation subsequently adopted a draft resolution stating that "a peaceful and negotiated settlement" was the way to resolve the issue.
| If the Brits own it, and the inhabitants are Brits, what's to be "peacefully negotiated"? |
A Foreign Office source last night confirmed that Britain had officially objected to the resolution, and reiterated its claim over the islands.
| We have a recently retired fleet aircraft carrier we could sell the Brits for $1, don't we? At least until they get theirs built. |
He added: "It was not a complaint, more a statement of fact - or a restatement of everything we have been saying for decades." Foreign Office minister Geoff Hoon confirmed that the OAS had been subjected to the same no-nonsense treatment. He said: "There can be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until such time as the Falkland Islanders so wish. The principle of self-determination underlies the government's position." |
