HOME PAGE Falkland Focus News from the Falkland Islands Government Number: 66 - September/October 1998	The Falkland Islands at the County Shows
The Right to Self-Determination - United Nations Hears the Falkland Islands Case Students Become BBC News Editors For A Day PAGE 2 Oil Update and Focus on Fisheries PAGE 3 British Business in the Falkland Islands and News in Brief

The Right to Self-Determination - United Nations Hears the Falkland Islands Case


Falkland Islands Councillors, Sharon Halford and Norma Edwards, travelled to New York in July to address the United Nations Decolonisation Committee. The two Councillors re-asserted the Islanders' right to self-determination in the face of the continuing Argentine claim to the Islands sovereignty which is now enshrined in its Constitution. In her speech Councillor Edwards said: "Falkland Islanders are a self-governing and economically self-sufficient people who choose to retain links with the UK in a new relationship as one of its Overseas Territories." Councillor Halford pointed out that a fundamental principle of the United Nations is the right of all peoples to determine their own political future. "Why then is it necessary for us to petition here each year for that right?" she asked. Both Councillors stressed that acceptance of the Argentine claim to govern the Islands would be tantamount to colonisation.

Cllr Halford

The UN Building in New York

Cllr Edwards

The concept of self-determination is set out in the UN Charter and enshrined in the Falkland Islands Constitution. In a recent House of Commons statement the British Foreign Minister, Mr Tony Lloyd, stated that the Government "remains fully committed to protecting the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their own future." Despite this unequivocal stance it is expected that President Menem of Argentina will use his visit in late October to raise, yet again, his country's claim to sovereignty of the Islands. The British Government has clearly stated that the issue will not be discussed during the visit. As far as the Islanders are concerned the issue is simply not negotiable. The Islands have been a British territory for over 165 years during which period they have developed a strong identity, a mature economic base and democratic political institutions. The Argentine claim lacks both historical and legal substance and has no moral validity.

The idea that a "solution" has to be found to a "problem" is a myth entirely of the Argentine making. It disregards the views of the Falkland Islanders and therefore flies in the face of democracy and self-determination. As Councillors Halford and Edwards stated at the United Nations, the Falkland Islands Government welcomes the improvement in UK-Argentine diplomatic and trade relations. It hopes that the forthcoming visit of the Argentine President to the UK will serve to further improve relations between the two countries and lead to greater understanding and acceptance of the Falkland Islands' position by Argentina and a renunciation of its spurious claim to the Islands.


Falkland Islands Exhibited at the County Shows

The Falkland Islands Government exhibited at three County Shows this summer to update the UK population on developments in the Islands. The stand generated significant interest from visitors including HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, during his visit to the Royal Show in Stoneleigh, where he met the Falkland Islands UK Government Representative, Sukey Cameron, and the Director of Agriculture, Bob Reid. The media also focused on the Islands' attendance and Sukey Cameron and Bob Reid were interviewed on local TV and radio stations.

Students Become BBC News Editors For A Day

Four budding journalists from the Falkland Islands Community School, who were part of an 18 strong production team that won the International Section of the Times Educational Supplement 1998 Newspaper Day Competition, were invited to guest-edit the BBC Childrens' News Programme, "Newsround", for a day. As editors they chose the stories, decided the running order, assisted with editing and presented live slots during the show. Two of the students also appeared live on the satellite weekend version of Newsround, "The Week on Newsround".

(From left to right) Pippa Lang, Mark Gilbert, Chris Rogers (Newsround presenter), Sian Davies and Bonnie Curtis.

PAGE 2 Oil Update and Focus on Fisheries
PAGE 3 British Business in the Falkland Islands and News in Brief





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