Argentina's president does it again! (Falklands)

[xxMATTGxx]

Argentina reignites Falklands row with newspaper letter

Argentina's president has called on the UK government to hand over the Falkland Islands, in an open letter printed in British newspapers.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner urges David Cameron to abide by a 1965 UN resolution to "negotiate a solution" over the islands.

The letter says they were forcibly stripped from Argentina in "a blatant exercise of 19th-century colonialism".

The government said the Falklands' population had chosen to be British.

The Foreign Office said there could be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falklands "unless and until such time as the islanders so wish".

A referendum on the islands' political status is to be held in March.

'Forcibly stripped'

The letter, published as an advert in the Guardian newspaper and the Independent, follows repeated calls by President Fernandez for the islands - which are known as the Malvinas in Argentina - to come under the sovereignty of her nation.
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"In the name of the Argentine people, I reiterate our invitation for us to abide by the resolutions of the United Nations”

President Fernandez

Last year, marked 30 years since the Falklands War, when the islands were occupied by Argentine forces for 74 days.

Ms Fernandez says her letter is published on the same date - 3 January - when, 180 years ago: "Argentina was forcibly stripped of the Malvinas Islands, which are situated 14,000 km (8,700 miles) away from London".

She goes on: "The Argentines on the Islands were expelled by the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom subsequently began a population implantation process similar to that applied to other territories under colonial rule.

"Since then, Britain, the colonial power, has refused to return the territories to the Argentine Republic, thus preventing it from restoring its territorial integrity."

In her final paragraph, she ends: "In the name of the Argentine people, I reiterate our invitation for us to abide by the resolutions of the United Nations."

'Chosen to be British'

Argentina says it inherited ownership of the islands from Spain, arguing that British colonists occupied the islands by force in 1833 and expelled settlers, violating Argentina's territorial integrity.

It also bases its claim on the islands' proximity to the South American mainland. The islands' capital, Port Stanley, lies about 1,180 miles (1,898km) from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that the Falkland Islanders "are British and have chosen to be so".

"They remain free to choose their own futures, both politically and economically, and have a right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Charter," she added.

"This is a fundamental human right for all peoples.

"There are three parties to this debate, not just two as Argentina likes to pretend.

"The islanders can't just be written out of history."

In June, David Cameron confronted Ms Fernandez about the issue when they came face-to-face at the G20 summit.

During the exchange, the prime minister rejected her demand for negotiations over the sovereignty of the islands and told her that she should respect the result of a referendum .

The Argentine president had earlier raised her demands at the United Nations, appearing at the annual meeting of the UN decolonisation committee on the 30th anniversary of the end of Argentine occupation.

She used the occasion to reiterate Argentina's opposition to any more wars and to criticise the prime minister's decision to mark the day by flying the Falklands flag over 10 Downing Street.

In December, Argentina protested at Britain's decision to name part of Antarctica, Queen Elizabeth Land. A formal protest note was given to the British ambassador, John Freeman, in Buenos Aires.

The area, which makes up around a third of the British Antarctic Territory, is also claimed by the South American country.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20896050


If the islanders want to remain British which I assume they will do and we will find out in a couple of months than the Falklands should remain British.

[-:Undertaker:-]

She has no choice really, the Argentine economy is down in the dumps along with most other South American economies due to their failed left wing economic philosophy. She's only playing the oldest trick in the book, when the going gets tough at home blame outsiders to rally the populace.

[GommeInc]

It was bound to happen. It was only a few weeks ago Argentina was in the news for reportedly having severe corruption allegations and national protests across the country. A few weeks later it was bound to happen - some crazy bint spouting hot air to divert attention.

An ex-colony wants to colonise land that is already inhabited against the rights of the inhabitants because the island used to be owned by the country of which it was also a colony. Because that obviously makes sense.

The UN should slap her and tell her to sit down and shut up.

[Jorders]

To be honest the only decisions to be made are those made by the islanders themselves. I'm sure that if one day they decided they did not want to be associated with the UK then we would happily oblige. Argentina lost any right they had to negotiate over this issue when they invaded, and something tells me the islanders won't want to become part of Argentina after that fiasco...

What also bugs me is that the Argentinians argue we are colonialist. What exactly was it called when they invaded and took control of the population against their will...

P.S. Definition of colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting...

Now I know they didn't occupy it with settlers of exploit it but I'm sure given the time they would have.

[GommeInc]

What also bugs me is that the Argentinians argue we are colonialist. What exactly was it called when they invaded and took control of the population against their will...

I find that hilarious rather than annoying They're spouting anti-colonialism rubbish, yet what they want to do is take over the islands against the wishes of the inhabitants. They will no doubt colonise the islands if they did boot out the Islanders, so they will be no different.

It's amazing how butt hurt she is when she knows history and facts are against her.

[AlexJRiley]

Go to war with them, we'll take Argentina too...

[Jorders]

We'd have a hard time going to war with them now, but only because we are currently without aircraft carriers. Whilst their military has deteriorated since 1982 ours has become more advanced. I guess we could use HMS Ocean to ferry a load of Apache gunships down there...

I think they would be idiots to begin another war. But then we all know the woman is an idiot anyway...

[karter]

These signboards, which mean The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) are Argentina are all over the country. Looks like Argentina has a lot more sentimental attachment to the Falklands than thought.

[Jorders]

Yeah apparently they teach in schools that the Falklands belong to Argentina and all sorts so that all of the kids grow up to believe it.

I honestly don't know what they are so fussed about. The Falklands is one of the most barren and desolate and boring places I have ever seen.

[Ardemax]

Yeah apparently they teach in schools that the Falklands belong to Argentina and all sorts so that all of the kids grow up to believe it.

I honestly don't know what they are so fussed about. The Falklands is one of the most barren and desolate and boring places I have ever seen.

Am I right in thinking that the current population of the Falklands is something like four farmers, three seagulls and a dog?