Latest update December 18th, 2024 5:45 AM
Latest News
- Stabroek Block offers unique opportunities for highest return on investment – Exxon’s VP
- EPA’s unlawful conduct, lax regulation would implicate the US in any resulting harm from gas project- Int’l lawyer tells US EXIM Bank
- Israeli attacks kill dozens across Gaza as ceasefire talks continue
- Prime suspect in Toshao’s murder surrenders
- Gas-to-Energy project gets initial approval for US$500M loan from US EXIM Bank- US Official
Argentina objects to Falklands’ referendum
Following a referendum which saw residents of Falklands Islands, South Atlantic, voting to stay under the rule of the British, Argentina’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its strong objections.
In a statement, Argentina said the referendum is a “further attempt by the British to manipulate the question of the Malvinas Islands”.
The British has been describing the islands as the Falklands.
According to the Ministry, the United Kingdom has called for a vote by the inhabitants that “it implanted in the Malvinas Islands in order for them to decide on matters which aim to distort the true legal status of these islands.”
“The Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas” are the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina which has been recognized by both countries as well as by the international community as a whole.
“Therefore, the United Kingdom has no right to alter the legal status of these territories, not even under the guise of a hypothetical referendum. Instead of complying with its international obligations by resuming negotiations with Argentina to solve the dispute, the British Government in an attitude that clearly demonstrates the absence of any grounds for its claim, and, above all, a lack of good faith- seeks to introduce elements aimed at distorting the definition given by international law to this dispute, which is reflected in several pronouncements by the international community.”
The Argentine government said that aware of its international isolation with regards to the question of the “Malvinas Islands”, the United Kingdom is clearly attempting to distort its dispute with Argentina, and not to solve it.
“The Argentine Constitution specifically protects the way of life of the population of the Malvinas Islands. Meanwhile, UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 calls upon both parties in the dispute, Argentina and the United Kingdom, to bear in mind the interests of such population.”
Argentina said that based on this mandate, the Argentine Republic regrets these initiatives by the United Kingdom, which are both irresponsible and lacking in good faith, and urges it to seriously reconsider its policy directed to misinforming about the legal and political facts of the disputed territory.
“This British initiative is not in line with any of the 40 United Nations resolutions on the question of the Malvinas Islands, which is considered to be a special and particular case of decolonisation, in which the existence of a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom must be settled through bilateral negotiations, taking into account the interests (not the wishes) of the inhabitants of the Islands.”
The Foreign Ministry statement said that the UN’s General Assembly expressly rejected, twice in 1985, British proposals to incorporate the principle of self-determination in the draft resolution on the question of the Malvinas Islands.
“This new British attempt to manipulate the Question of the Malvinas Islands through a vote by the population implanted by the United Kingdom in the Malvinas Islands has been firmly rejected by the Argentine Republic, as well as by UNASUR and MERCOSUR member countries.
After two days of voting the inhabitants of the South Atlantic archipelago decided by 99.8 per cent in favour of retaining their status as a United Kingdom overseas territory. Turnout from the electorate of 1,649, some of whom had queued in wind and rain yesterday to cast their ballots in Stanley, was 92 per cent.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The stakes are high in Guyana’s democracy
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- In any vibrant democracy, the mechanisms that bind it together are those that mediate differences,... more
Let the asylum seekers go: a first step for Venezuela to rebuild relations in the Americas
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – The government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela has steadfast support from many... more
Weekend Cartoon
