INTAFF-PM Cameron discards any Falklands’ sovereignty negotiations with Argentina

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January 9th 2012

PM Cameron discards any Falklands’ sovereignty negotiations with Argentina


British Prime Minister David Cameron discarded any Falkland Islands sovereignty negotiations with Argentina and said that his government is permanently vigilant about the protection of the Islands and their defence.


“We must make sure their defences are strong and that's exactly what we are doing, and there's no question of negotiating on the question of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands”, said PM Cameron interviewed on Sunday by Andrew Marr from the BBC.

PM Cameron’s comments follow recent statements from Mercosur countries barring Falklands’ flagged vessels from regional ports. The decision was announced during the last Mercosur December summit in Montevideo, when Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, in support of Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Malvinas, made the proposal he considered coherent with the region’s longstanding position on the issue.

However, Mujica made clear he would not support any blockade of the Falkland Islands because that is against International Law and a violation of the human rights of the Islanders.

Cameron added that the UK “needs to build strong relationships with all countries in South America and we’re doing that, particularly with countries liked Brazil and Chile”.

Asked specifically by Marr about the strong rhetoric and support built by Argentina among other South American nations and the “sort of drumbeat that's going on out there”, Cameron admitted that 2012 (30th anniversary of the Falklands’ conflict) is a very important anniversary, but emphasized UK must never put the Islands at risk.

“I remember as a young boy at school listening to the radio and following really closely what happened in 1982 and the incredible bravery of our service personnel in recovering the Falkland Islands. And we must never put them at risk”.

Finally the British PM confirmed there is nothing immediate to be worried about because “we are permanently vigilant about the protection of the Falkland Islands andtheir defence”, and “I’ve spent a serious amount of time making sure that's the case”.

Next April 2 is the 30th anniversary of the Argentine military invasion of the Falklands causing the reaction of then PM Margaret Thatcher who sent a task force to recover them.

The conflict lasted 74 days, cost almost a thousand lives, but also marked the complete collapse of the Argentine military regime and the return of democracy and civilian rule 18 months later.However elected governments have never dropped Argentina’s claim over the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty and a more active diplomacy from Buenos Aires on the issue has managed a more active and explicit support from South American countries.

Source: mercopress.com