The Foreign Office rejects Argentine Falklands talks invite

FOREIGN Office Minister Jeremy Browne has turned down an invitation to attend talks in Argentina when he visits the Falklands next week.

The Foreign Office said it was “grateful” for the invitation but said Mr Browne had “a full schedule of events” on the islands to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.

A spokesman said while Britain wanted to build a “stronger partnership” with Argentina, it was not prepared to enter into discussions over the sovereignty of the islands.

He said yesterday: “We have today received an invitation from Argentina’s foreign minister, Hector Timmerman, for Mr Browne to visit Buenos Aires next week.

“However, he has a full schedule of events in the Falkland Islands to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the conflict there. This has been arranged for some time.

“Mr Browne is grateful for the invitation. The UK has a long-standing interest in building a stronger partnership with Argentina on a broad range of issues of mutual interest.

“The only issue that we will not discuss is the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, unless and until the islanders wish us to do so.”

Earlier this week, Mr Browne described as “domineering” the announcement by the government in Buenos Aires that it was launching criminal proceedings against UK oil firms operating off the Falklands as another attempt to hinder the economic development of the islands.