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'Malvinas scheduled referendum absolutely void’

Iran Press TV

Wed Mar 6, 2013 3:3PM GMT

Argentina has declared Britain’s scheduled referendum for the disputed Malvinas Islands as a “media operation” to avoid dialogue and international law, Press TV reports.

“From a legal perspective, the referendum is absolutely void. It sets no precedent that could be considered from a diplomatic view. It produces only a communication effect that aims at acclaiming the island as self-determination,” said Juan Recce, diplomatic leader of the Peoples for Malvinas, during a meeting in London this week.

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office has rejected negotiations with Buenos Aires over the disputed islands, while launching a referendum allowing the inhabitants of the Malvinas to determine their political status on March 10-11.

However, Argentina has rejected the UK’s self-determination pledge, with the Argentine ambassador to Britain Alicia Castro saying London “has no legal and political basis” to the dispute over the islands.

“It is being organized by the British, for the British so that they can say that the territory must be British,” said Castro, while adding that the conflict is a matter of “unsettled sovereignty dispute” and not the people’s right to self-determination.

“But we all know that behind the island’s questions lie the permanent interests of the UK and the Malvinas’ high geopolitical value,” said Recce.

“In some ways, they’re trying to demonize Argentina’s position in the world, changing the core idea of the dispute. We are absolutely convinced that UK’s agenda is an agenda of resources just like its colonialist agenda during the 19th century,” Recce concluded.

The two countries fought a 74-day-long war in 1982 over the islands, which ended with the British side claiming victory over the Argentineans.

Located about 300 miles off Argentina’s coast and home to about 3,000 inhabitants, the islands have been declared part of the British Overseas Territories since Britain established its colonial rule on the territories in 1833.

GMA/JR