Britain Dismisses Argentinian UN Threat Over Falklands

February 08, 2012

Britain has dismissed Argentina's new threat to complain to the United Nations over the disputed Falkland Islands.

The British Foreign Office said the people of the Falkland Islands are British citizens "out of choice.”

Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner on February 7 threatened to make a formal protest to the UN over what she called Britain's "militarization" of the islands, which have a population of about 3,000.

Britain, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, could veto a potential Security Council resolution.

Tensions between Britain and Argentina have been increasing in recent weeks.

Last month, Britain said it was sending a destroyer to the South Atlantic region.

Britain has held the islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, since 1833 and fought a war against Argentina over them in 1982.

Compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/argentina_falkland_islands_int/24477158.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.