UK rejects new Argentine request for Falkland talks
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, May 19, IRNA -- Britain’s new Conservative-led government has followed its Labour predecessor in rejecting an Argentine request to hold talks on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic.
"We have no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The principle of self determination as set out in the UN charter applies,” Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said.
“There cannot be negotiation on sovereignty unless and until the Falkland Islanders so wish,” Browne said in a copy of a statement obtained by IRNA.
Under a previous Conservative government, Britain went to war over the Falklands in 1982 to seize back the islands after they were occupied by Argentine troops.
In January, the former Labour government also firmly rejected Argentina's claims to the South Atlantic islands, including South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding seas, as well as the British Antarctic Territory Falkland Islands.
Former Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant also said the UK had "no doubt" about its sovereignty over the Falklands in a "note verbal" to the Argentine charge d'affaires in London outlining the UK's rejection.
Tensions over the islands have been triggered by the UK’s decision to drill for oil around the Falklands and in March, former prime minister Gordon Brown rejected an offer from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to help resolve the latest dispute.
Britain has exercised sovereignty since 1833 but Argentina says it has a right to the islands because it inherited them from the Spanish crown in the early 1800s.
The current Argentine government has so far ruled out any military action but has been stepping up diplomatic efforts to pressure London into negotiations.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1125326
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