UK's Cameron: 'Argentina’s behaviour remains aggressive' to Malvinas islanders

During a speech at the House of Commons in London today, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron blasted Argentina for its “aggressive behaviour” to the Malvinas islanders in the sovereignty claim they maintain with Great Britain.

"(Argentina's) behaviour remains aggressive to the islanders. The actions displayed by the Argentinean government are not those of a responsible power on the world stage with threats and military rhetoric."

Cameron told the British parliament that, during the G20, in Mexico, "the president of Argentina had a number of arguments during this summit, not just with me, and it was made very clear to her that recent behaviour by Argentina on both investment and trade protectionism was not acceptable."

According to British newspaper The Telegraph, the Prime Minister said the islanders must be allowed to determine their future and claimed a referendum on their sovereignty would end the debate over ownership once and for all.

Cameron also warned Argentina against making a fresh claim for the islands in the future. ''The islanders have had to put up with endless attempts at endless summits to put a question mark over their future. They want to determine that future themselves,” he stressed.

''No one should be in any doubt that as far as the British Government is concerned, it is Falkland Islanders who will determine the sovereignty of the islands. I believe their view will be respected by this House, this country and by the world,'' he stated.

Islanders are to hold a referendum on sovereignty of archipelago in the first half of 2013.

Hot air about the Falkland Islands reaches the UN

By John J. Metzler (*) At the time of the 1982 invasion, Argentina was run by a military junta who unwisely played the nationalism card and seized the islands 300 miles off the coast of South America.

The Argentine generals figured this would be an easy win and a political boost for a teetering government. They picked on the wrong guy, or in this case woman, and soon Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government struck back with resolute fury; a Royal Navy task force was assembled from 8,000 miles away and recaptured the atoll.

Today the salvos are not lethal but rhetorical. President Christina Fernandez Kirchner and her entourage descended upon New York on “Tango 01” to bring a high profile political road show to a normally somnolent UN committee. An impassioned plea by President Kirchner, demanded diplomatic discussions with Britain on the future of the Malvinas.

Regarding the “Question of the Malvinas Islands,” a consensus resolution backed by Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela along with Chile states that “the only way to put an end this special and particular situation is a negotiated settlement of the dispute existing between the governments of the two countries and requests the parties to consolidate the process of dialogue and cooperation.”

Chile’s Vice Foreign Minister Fernando Schmidt advised the committee, “For the Latin American and Caribbean nations, it is important for the question of the Malvinas Islands to be settled once and for all.”

Later comments from the sublime to the ridiculous saw Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Mainland China, Nicaragua and Syria speak in support of Argentina’s position.

But is there more than bruised nationalism? Sovereignty over the Falklands, and the farther away South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime exclusive economic zones would allow Argentina access to huge fishing rights as well as potentially rich petroleum resources.

The Falkland Islands are home to 3.000 islanders who resolutely wish to remain British; the islands remain a self-governing British territory with their own constitution, flag and Anglo traditions, which have nothing to do with Argentina. The British stress there was no displaced indigenous population, nor did an assimilated population come to speak English after the British seized the largely uninhabited islands in 1833.

Relative proximity of the rocky island atoll to the Argentine mainland (about 300 miles) does not a case of sovereignty make. If one considers so many geographical anomalies; the Channel Islands, a stone’s throw off the coast of Normandy in France, remain British though here with a very strong French cultural/linguistic influence. Or the ethnically divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where two very distinct ethnic and linguistic communities live in separation. But belongs neither to Greece nor Turkey.

Modern Argentina is a democracy which sadly still suffers from the economic undertow of state socialism, endemic strikes, and the political afterglow of the Peron era. Still Cristina Fernandez Kirchner’s government knows how to grandstand and playing the Falkland/Malvinas card works well politically back in Buenos Aires.

As the Buenos Aires Herald columnist Martin Gambarotta added editorially, “The President’s taste for the spectacular, if anything, has forced Britain to hit back with some rhetorical fireworks of its own.”

Indeed Britain has announced that the Falkland Islanders (all 1,600 voters among them) will hold a referendum on their status next year. But as Mike Summers, a Member of the Legislative Assembly told the UN that “unwelcome and unsubstantiated claim on our country by Argentina remains and is pursued with increasing vigor.” He added, “Falkland Islanders are comfortable with our-post colonial relationship with the UK. We have the right to move away from that relationship if we so wish.”

Summers, a sixth generation islander, warned that “Argentina might like to air-brush us out of existence.” Not likely, but the Falklands/Malvinas present an emotional and nationalistic rallying point to escalate political tensions in South America.

(*) John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for WorldTribune.com.

How UK Armed Forces Veterans are treated by the UK Government

'It's disgusting': Anger as MoD lands veterans with £700,000 bill for ceremony to unveil Bomber Command Memorial

Bomber Command charity has raised £6.5m for monument in London's Green Park

But government won't stump up remaining funds to stage ceremony on Thursday

War veterans face paying up to £700,000 out of their own pockets to unveil the Bomber Command Memorial because the Government is refusing to stump up the cash.

The pensioners, who are trustees of the Bomber Command Association, will be personally liable for the cost of staging the event if they fail to raise the money through donations.

'Disgusting': The RAF Bomber Command Memorial under construction in Green park. War veterans have been told they face a £700,000 bill for staging its official opening after the MoD sais it would not cover the costs

'Disgusting': The RAF Bomber Command Memorial under construction in Green park. War veterans have been told they face a £700,000 bill for staging its official opening after the MoD sais it would not cover the costs

However they still have to find £700,000 to provide seating and security for the event on Thursday, which will be attended by ten members of the Royal Family including the Queen.

The monument, in London’s Green Park, will commemorate the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen who died in the Second World War.

It has already proved controversial after it emerged that more than 100 veterans could miss out on the unveiling because of a lack of space.

Earlier this month, David Cameron gave the trustees hope when he told MPs the Government had ‘the ability to intervene’ if funds were not raised in time.

But now the trustees, who include four Bomber Command veterans, have been told the Ministry of Defence will not help.

Jim Dooley, chairman of the memorial’s fund-raising committee, said the veterans were still £500,000 short.

‘The MoD response to this has been disgusting,’ he said. ‘The unveiling has become a state occasion, yet we are getting no help from the state.’

Trustee and veteran Harry Irons, 88, from Romford, Essex, said: ‘If we can’t get the £500,000 I will probably lose my house. I haven’t got much else.’

The memorial was built with private donations, but the bill for its unveiling has risen because the 6,500 widows and veterans face security checks before they can enter Green Park.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would ‘make a contribution’ but would not say how much.

The MoD said it was not allowed to give to charities, despite records showing it has donated to 28 charitable bodies in the past five years.

A Government spokesman said: 'The Government does not usually support opening ceremonies for public memorials.

'However, given the unique circumstances of the Bomber Command Memorial, an exception has been made in this case.

'The Government will make a contribution towards the opening ceremony to help cover the additional costs of seating and security for the many veterans wish to see the unveiling of this important memorial.

'This is in addition to £1million that the Government has already contributed towards the VAT costs of the construction of the memorial.'

Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, said: 'The MoD has worked very closely with the excellent people of the Bomber Command Association to ensure a successful unveiling of the memorial.

'We are delighted that a significant number of RAF personnel will be involved in the event, providing a flypast by five Tornado aircraft and a Lancaster Bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight; ceremonial elements by The Queens’ Colour Squadron, University Air Squadrons and the Central Band of the RAF; along with ushers, hosts and catering services.'

To make a donation, go to www.bombercommand.com

Argentina invites Russia’s Gazprom to consider investing in YPF operations after stealing it from Spain. As the rest of South America says 'an Argentine is always a thief'.

The technical teams of Argentine nationalized hydrocarbon companies YPF and Russia’s Gazprom will begin to do joint work in the area, said Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman

The announcement came after a meeting between President Cristina Fernández and her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Mexico.

“The President had a bilateral meeting with the Russian president, whom she invited to visit Argentina and thanked for his country’s historic support for Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas sovereignty,” Timerman said.

The minister also said the President told Putin about “the increasing militarization of the South Atlantic region carried out unilaterally by Great Britain.” (No one gives a damn about your Claim CFK)

The Argentine government also announced that during the meeting “both presidents agreed to have YPF and Russia’s Gazprom to begin talks in order to conduct joint work in the area”.

Meanwhile from Moscow it was revealed that Spain’s Repsol, which held a majority stake in YPF until the Argentine government seized 51% of stock, may seek to boost its presence in Russia via its venture with Alliance Oil Co. after the Spanish crude producer lost assets in Argentina, according to the head of the Russian company.

“There is a lot of interest and a lot of joint work to look for new assets in Russia,” Alliance Oil Managing Director Arsen Idrisov said on a conference call. “It might be a positive for the Russian market because this was considered as an alternative to Latin American operations of Repsol.”

Repsol executives are revising the Madrid-based oil producer’s long-term strategy after the Argentine government seized its YPF unit last month. The company is looking to boost oil production and identify new petrochemical deposits to offset the loss of its Argentine assets.

Alliance Oil, listed in Stockholm, and Repsol agreed in December to form a 840 million dollars oil and gas venture focused on production in Russia. Repsol owns a minority stake in Alliance after the 2008 merger of Alliance and West Siberian Resources Ltd., in which Repsol had held 10%.

PM Cameron accuses Argentina of colonialism and protectionism ahead of G20

British Prime Minister David Cameron has fired a broadside at Argentina ahead of the opening of the G20 summit in Mexico, accusing the country of colonialism over the Falklands and protectionism in world trade.

    

The message to Argentina is very clear, listen to what the people of the Falkland Islands want, said Cameron.

The PM said he would use the opportunity presented by the G20 summit to tell Argentine president Cristina Fernandez to her face that she should listen to the people of the Falklands when they say they want to remain British.

He also singled out Argentina for criticism for protectionist trade measures which he identified as one of the five key threats to the world economy.

Relations between Britain and Argentina are in the deep freeze after Buenos Aires tried to use the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict to revive its sovereignty claim over the Malvinas.

In a TV interview recorded ahead of the opening session of the G20 summit at which he expects to encounter the Argentine leader, PM Cameron said: “The Falkland Islanders have decided to have a referendum. They are going to ask a very simple question of whether they want to continue with the status quo or whether they want to change.

”The message to Argentina is very clear - listen to what the people of the Falkland Islands want. We should all believe in this day and age in self-determination, not colonialism.“

Asked if he would pass this message directly to Cristina Fernandez, PM Cameron said: ”Absolutely.”

Cameron is expected to exchange a few words with the Argentine president as the G20 leaders gather for the opening session, but there will be no formal bilateral talks between the UK and Argentina, according to Foreign Office sources.

Britain has rejected calls from Argentina, made by the Argentine president to the UN decolonisation committee last week, for direct talks to discuss the future of the Falklands.

Cameron has said that the UK position is that as long as the Falkland Islanders prefer to remain British and wish no sovereignty talks with Argentina, London will support that position. If Islanders with to establish a dialogue on the issue with Argentina, UK will equally support them.

However the UK and the Falklands are willing to discuss with Argentina issues of common interest such as fisheries, oil and communications.

In a speech to a business audience in summit venue Los Cabos, Mexico, PM Cameron said that G20 countries should be setting an example to the rest of the world by avoiding protectionism, but said Argentina had failed to do so. He cited the case of the nationalisation earlier this year of oil company YPF, which is largely owned by Spanish firm Repsol.

Cameron will personally present Falklands message to Kirchner

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez will get her wish on Monday or Tuesday, when she meets Prime Minister David Cameron in the fringes of the G20 meeting in Mexico to talk about the Falkland Islands.

The British PM will convey to the Argentine leader UK’s commitment to the Falklands The British PM will convey to the Argentine leader UK’s commitment to the Falklands

But Cristina Fernandez might have been well advised to be careful what she wished for. Far from giving in to her demands for talks about the future status of the Falklands, the British leader is going to present a blunt message. In effect, he will say enough is enough - we will not give in to your demands over the Falklands and the aggressive diplomacy and economic action needs to be replaced by something more constructive.

The British Prime Minister has told Falklands legislators about the planned meeting, at which he will warn Buenos Aires that they should not underestimate Britain's commitment, both politically and militarily, to defend the 3.000 Islanders' and their wish to remain British.

The British leadership appears to have decided that this message needs to pass personally from one leader to the other, following on from Cristina Fernandez show-stealing appearance at the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation last week, which was part of an unprecedented international campaign for international support over the “Malvinas”.

It is possible that the mercurial President will anticipate the Prime Minister's message, and refuse to meet him, thus presenting her own uncompromising message. But if they do meet, the language exchanged is likely to be adequately diplomatic but to-the-point and uncompromising. A slim olive branch may, however, be extended: the PM will probably tell the Argentines that it would be possible to talk about practical issues over the Falklands that have the potential to benefit both nations as well as the Islands; for example conservation of fish stocks and oil exploration. But the outlook for this initiative is not good; Islanders attempted to present such a message when they were in the same room as the Argentine leadership last week, but the Argentine Foreign Minister rebuffed their approach.

Official British support for Falkland Islanders is at its strongest since the war of 1982. London fears that unless the Argentines are made to understand that their efforts are futile, the aggressive diplomacy and attempts to isolate the Falklands will increase, possibly to a point at which the Islands shipping and air links with the continent are broken, and diplomatic relations dissolve completely.

Downing Street's message for the G20 was trailed last week in London. In a powerful symbolic statement on 14 June, the 30th anniversary of the Argentine surrender, the Falkland Islands flag was flown over Number 10. At the same time, a Foreign Office minister was in Port Stanley. And that evening, the Prime Minister attended a reception hosted by the Falkland Islands Government, where he made an uncompromising speech.

Mr Cameron spoke of “aggression from over the water”, and said: “My message to the government of Argentina is this. The UK has no aggressive intentions towards you. But do not under-estimate our resolve. Threats will not work; attempts to intimidate the Islanders will not succeed, because Britain stands ready and willing to stand up for the Falkland Islanders at any time. As long as they wish to remain a British territory, that is the way it will stay.”

Elected member of the Islands' Legislative Assembly, Gavin Short, who recently announced plans to conduct a formal referendum about Islanders' wishes, said that he welcomed the Prime Minister's words, but he did not expect Argentine activity over the Falklands to end any time soon. “The unequivocal statement by the PM was extremely well received here in the Falklands,” he said.

”I suspect now that the 14th June (the 30th anniversary of the war) is over, low level skirmishing will resume, although we may have to be wary because as the Argentine economy slides ever deeper into crisis it may well cause the government in Argentina to become even more desperate to divert attention away from what looks like being a looming disaster” concluded MLA Short.