Argentina asks UN to bring UK into talks
Quote:
Argentina has formally asked United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to bring the UK into talks over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said he had asked Mr Ban to help stop "further unilateral acts" by the UK. Mr Taiana was referring to the UK's decision to begin oil drilling under a seabed off the islands. The UK government says the islands have a "legitimate right" to develop an oil industry within their waters. In a statement, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, said that the UK had "no doubt" over its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. He said this position was "underpinned by the principle of self-determination as set out in the UN charter".
After the meeting with Mr Ban, Mr Taiana reiterated his government's belief that the islands, which it calls Las Malvinas, are part of Argentina's territory. He said he had asked the UN chief to press Britain to at least talk to his country about the dispute. The BBC's Matthew Price at the UN says that the dispute has as much to do with oil as it does with Argentine politics. With elections due next year, the government cannot be seen to be dropping the country's claim, especially if oil is found in large quantities, our correspondent says.
At the summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged the UN to debate Argentina's claim to sovereignty. "What is the geographic, the political or economic explanation for England [sic] to be in Las Malvinas?" he asked. "Could it be because England is a permanent member of the UN's Security Council [where] they can do everything and the others nothing?"
Quote:
UK forces wrested back control of the Falkland Islands in the 1980s, held by Britain since 1833, after a seven-week war that killed 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel.
Wheres Maggie when you need her? :P
Quite simple really, Brazil may be shouting around now but its desire to become a UN Security Council Member (Permanent) can easily be blocked by the United Kingdom so just threaten to do this. I'm sure if Brazil or Venuzeula had an island in the North Atlantic with their people on that they won control of hundreds of years ago they wouldn't be so eager to part with them. Talk if they want, but make it 100% clear that no deal or pact will be made under any grounds at all.
Thoughts?
Argentina is to seek the backing of the United States in its dispute with Britain ove
Quote:
Argentina is to seek the backing of the United States in its dispute with Britain over Falklands oil exploration as President Kirchner prepares to meet Hillary Clinton next week.
Fresh from an inconclusive meeting at the UN, where Argentina failed to secure anything other than a vague acknowledgement of its concerns, Buenos Aires has turned its gaze to Washington in its attempt to stop what it says are illegal British activities in the disputed islands.
The hastily scheduled meeting, announced by Hector Timerman, the Argentine Ambassador to Washington, will take place in Uruguay on Monday, when Mrs Clinton will attend the presidential inauguration of José Mujica. Argentina will be pressing the White House to drop its declared neutrality and support Buenos Aires in the dispute, which looks set to deteriorate further.
Though President Reagan gave public backing and vital intelligence to Britain in the 1982 conflict over the islands, senior US officials now insist that Washington will stick with a policy of non-intervention. Philip Crowley, the State Department spokesman, said that the US maintained a position of neutrality but encouraged “good faith dialogue”, adding that if both sides requested mediation “we would consider it”.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7041745.ece
So they want to get the US on their side now eh? Typical.
