David Cameron vows to protect sovereignty of Falkland Islands
David Cameron: "We are a major investor in Argentina." Picture: Getty
BRITAIN will “defend the Falkland Islands properly” against any threat to residents’ right to self-determination, David Cameron said in Sweden today.
The Prime Minister was speaking after Argentina’s President - Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner – said the country would make a formal complaint to the United Nations over the disputed archipelago.
Buenos Aires has revived its long-standing claim to sovereignty over the islands, which Argentina knows as Las Malvinas.
It comes as the 30th anniversary of the 1982 war between the countries approaches.
Mr Cameron said he had no doubt that the UN would back the islands’ status as a self-governing British overseas territory.
“I think Argentina will find, when she goes to the United Nations, that it is absolutely a part of the UN charter to support self-determination and the people of the Falkland Islands want to maintain their status, their connection to the UK,” the Prime Minister told reporters.
“What we’ve said is absolutely clear and right under the UN, which is to say that as long as the people of the Falkland Islands want to maintain that status, we will make sure they do and we will defend the Falkland Islands properly to make sure that’s the case.”
Mr Cameron said the UK Government’s stance “should not leave anyone in any doubt about our support” for the Falklanders.
Ms Kirchner used a speech to Falklands War veterans on Tuesday to accuse Britain of “militarising” the south Atlantic.
She cited the recent posting of the Duke of Cambridge to the Falklands as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, along with the announcement that the modern warship HMS Dauntless is to be sent to the region to replace the frigate HMS Montrose.
Ms Kirchner said it was difficult to see how “the sending of an immense and modern destroyer accompanied by the royal heir, who we would have liked to see in civilian clothes and not in military uniform” was not a show of purposeful military strength by the UK.
She said: “I have instructed our chancellor to present formally to the Security Council of the United Nations and before the General Assembly of the United Nations this militarisation of the south Atlantic which implies a great risk for international security.”
Downing Street yesterday said it was a matter for Argentina what issues it wishes to raise at the UN.
A spokeswoman said: “The people of the Falklands choose to be British. Their right to self-determination is a principle enshrined in the UN charter.
“The Falklands are already discussed by a UN committee and it is up to the Argentines to decide whether they are going to raise it at the UN.
“The fact is that one of the key principles of the UN charter is self-determination and that is what we are talking about in relation to the Falkland Islands.”
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Comments
There are 61 comments to this article
Page 1 of 5
Intervention
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:13 AMI agree that these nasty separatists in Falklands should not be run by their nearest neighbours who just want their hands on the separatists oil.................................................................
Hector the Lessor
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:48 AMOK, a decision that is 100%. The UK promises battle ships and serious intervention to protect the Falkland Islanders. The Argentinians would most likely go for cheap ferries, A provision of foodstuffs and a small investment in local industry. Gee I know it is difficult to make the decision, but if you put it off you could join Scotland in achieving a hiding to nothing.
New Unionism
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:13 AM49 Daniel ooohh you meant Argentina covering up their economic mess and not the UK, now or on the first invasion back in the early 80's - you couldnae script it.
Hester Blumenbonus
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:06 AMDon't cry for me. I drink tea now.
Anagach
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:07 AM50 Simonsaid Cameron is on record as saying he is all for Scotland having a referendum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No hes not. His party declared against it year after year, hes for it happening whne it suits him, now that its going to happen anyway, but he was not for it and never has been. Any more lies your peddling ?.
Anagach
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:03 AMSimonsaid Aye awbody kens, apairt frae you, thit Cameron is on record as saying he is all for Scotland having a referendum and unlike oor Great Leader he wants it sooner rather than later ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hey there simon old friend, old mate. Can you stop posting every second post in crap parody Scots, no one speaks as badly as you write, and the givaway is you use no Scots words just BBC sterotype parody. So please stop, its just pathetic. Like having an american pretend to be a mexican immigrant, oye meester.
Engineer
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:02 AM#46 "and with what, pray, would he protect them WITH? " - well the thousand or so MOD staff on the islands for one thing "No Aircraft Carriers" - unlikely a carrier would be needed if the islands weren't lost in the first place "Not enough surface vessels of any kind" - That's simply untrue. "So is he just "sabre rattling" sending HMS Dauntless down south?" - is there a list of vessels he's not allowed to send? is there a build-by date after which we can't allocate a RN ship Falklands patrol duty? Is there is I tell you an airaraft carrier would be pretty much at the top of the list, but you were complaining about the UK not having any a minute ago. "Politically, how can he state the rights of the Falkland Islanders and deny Scots' rights in the same breath" - I believe his stance is that the Scots can have a vote tomorrow if they want (as could the FI's) however it's the SNP who are denying us the choice until 2014.
KampungHighlander
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:57 PMComment removed by moderator
furian
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:30 PMThe Falklands and the Empire are in safe hands,protected by a royal aviator with no logbook, a modern destroyer, 4 outdated jet fighters and a nuclear submarine. Not bad at all, UK is making friends everywhere !! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- However, more important is the second most important position in UK, to coach a bunch of losers- the National football team. Well, the Italian has had enough and who can blame him? But this time they will have an pure English manager- a man of the people, who can not read and write ,and name his bank accounts after his dogs. It is going to be better now- only the British will play. It is no to Russian or US money to finance the clubs, the foreign players will have leave etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyway , Prince William and Redknap, the pride of Britain, the best of the best, will protect the country with dignity and fight to the bitter end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In UK the Bank of England is printing more money to deal with the coming recession, the L. inquiry is banging on trying to find out who paid the police,who listened to whom and who said what to whom etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is business as usual on a small island with a broke population living on junk food and credit cards. Britain demands respect and Scotland to stay in the union, so why are we laughing?
KINGFISHER1
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:12 PMFORMAL AT RESERVED AND REDACTED COMMENTS I AM IN A SERIOUSLY BAD MOOD. EXPLOSIVE,as with VOLCANOES. TRISTIAN and EREBUS I note the cracks on the A 380's,which I think makes the point.
Kinghob
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:56 PMCwmeron can see the self determination as a right of the Malvinas or Falkland Isles and yet a similar nod towards democracy needs to be spun as 'illegal' when it is Scotland! Makes one chuckle at the forked tongue democratic values of the beloved union does it not?
Simonsaid
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:31 PM#46- Rabigyin- Apart from availing the Argies of secret info that they may have missed ye have blundered off onto a subject on which ye appear tae be absolutely clueless – Aye awbody kens, apairt frae you, thit Cameron is on record as saying he is all for Scotland having a referendum and unlike oor Great Leader he wants it sooner rather than later
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:14 PM# 37 New Unionism ......................... It is because of charmers such as yourself that the UK came into existence in the first place. Little vicious s=ds, out to get people killed for no good reason, other than to make themselves look big. ..................... Lets hope common sense takes over and the ob potential in that part of the world is realised. A lot of Argentineans could find good work, by working with the UK rather than another war to distract from Argentinas economic problems, compared to her neighbours.
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:10 PMGoodness me its only one ship.
The Harder They Come
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:09 PMComment removed by moderator
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