Post by Focus on Aug 7, 2013 16:13:16 GMT
BRITAIN have refused to go to the negotiating table over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands after Argentina lodged a claim at the United Nations (UN) yesterday.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has called for a debate on the Falklands sovereignty
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said she wants to debate the future of the Malvinas during a UN Security Council meeting in new York.
The 60-year-old politician called on a UN resolution, that was passed in 1964 urged the two countries to debate the Falklands sovereignty, to be enforced.
However the UK's UN Ambassador Sir Mark Lyall Grant, who was in attendance to hear Mrs Kircher's address, said the future of the islands is not up for discussion.
The Argentine President said: "This is not a fanciful stance. We simply want the United Nations resolution to be enforced and for our two countries to sit down and discuss this."
The Argentina President called on the UK to honor at UN resolution at a security council meeting
Mrs Kirchner made the comments after Ban Ki-moon notified her the UK were not willing to negotiate
Sir Mark was firm in his response to Mrs Kirchner, saying the UK will only go to the negotiating table once the Falklands citizens vote in favor of it.
He said: "The views of the people of the Falkland Islands cannot be dismissed. There can be no discussion on the sovereignty of the islands unless and until the islanders so wish.
"They made their views unequivocally clear in the referendum in March when they voted overwhelmingly to remain a UK overseas territory."
The Falklanders voted overwhelmingly to stay British in March
The British ambassador said they are not willing to debate the sovereignty of the Falklands
Mrs Kircher made the comments a day after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon notified her the UK were not willing to go the negotiating table.
The 55th President of Argentina questioned Britain's commitment to upholding UN resolutions and said such resolutions need to be respected.
She said: "One can have discordant opinions about something that has not been resolved by the United Nations, but when this body that covers us all, that we are all signatories of, whose resolutions we have all committed to respect, issues a resolution through its General Assembly, this body's maximum organ, it is not a matter of discordant opinions.
"We are before a UN resolution. Are we ready to fulfill what we're obligated to do or not?"
Sir Mark Lyall Grant said the voice of the Falklanders could not be dismissed
Cristina Kirchner called on Britain and David Cameron to honor a UN resolution
Mrs Kirchner, who was the rotating chair UN Security Council, admitted her Falklands call was controversial to bring up at the meeting.
The point was raised during a UN Security Council discussion about its ties with regional bodies.
A referendum had been held in March where 99.8 per cent of Falkland islanders voted to stay British in a comprehensive message to Argentina.
However, the crushing vote in favor of the Falklanders staying British was dismissed as meaningless by Mrs Kircher who has repeatedly staked a claim on the region.
The Falklands Conflict claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 244 British troops
Margaret Thatcher sent a task force to re-claim the Falklands after Argentina invaded in 1982
Sir Mark added: "The United Kingdom fully respects all its obligations and responsibilities as a member of the United Nations.
"The principle of self-determination on which our position on the Falkland Islands is based is enshrined in the UN Charter."
The Falklands was invaded and occupied in April 1982 by Argentina when they were ruled by a military junta under General Leopoldo Galtieri.
This prompted then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to send a task force of 100 ships to recapture the islands.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has repeatedly staked a claim on the Falkland Islands
The Falklands Conflict, which lasted for over two months, saw 649 Argentine and 244 British troops die.
When will this silly mare finally get the message that the Falklands are British. I would have thought the message would have hit home when the Islander's voted, overwhelmingly in March for things to stay this way ... can the woman not take a fcking hint?? - Fx
