We were very disappointed this morning to see the advert from the Argentine Presidential Office, attempting to politicise the Olympics in service of their territorial ambitions.  This video was filmed without the knowledge of the Falkland Islands authorities.

It is deeply sad to see Mr Zylberberg clambering over a war memorial, especially in this anniversary year.  Sadly, this illustrates the disrespect the Argentine authorities have for our home and our people.  Unsurprisingly, at no stage does the video feature any Falkland Islanders – a clear reflection of Argentina’s policy, which is to pretend that the people of the Falkland Islands do not exist.  It is time the world took note – we do exist, and as with all people we have rights, which the Argentine Government is trying to deny us.  We are our own people, who through nine generations have lived and worked in these islands for nearly 200 years.

We determine our own future, and we will not be bullied by the Argentine Government, neither by their attempts to undermine our economy, nor by their constant misrepresentation of the truth, nor by pieces of cheap and disrespectful propaganda such as this.  It is hugely disappointing to see sport abused in this way, when it is so often seen as a vehicle for unity.  It seems an act of desperation to sink to this.

Hon. Ian Hansen

Member of the Legislative Assembly

Falkland Islands

4th April 2012

An Open Letter to Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee.

I am writing with regard to your and colleagues’ letter to David Cameron, dated 28th March 2012, in which you call for the UK Government to open negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty of our home and people.

It is deeply disappointing that, as someone who has been recognised and celebrated as a champion of human rights, you appear to have overlooked the rights of the people most affected by this issue, the Falkland Islanders themselves.

Your letter focuses on United Nations Resolution 2065 (XX) of 16 December 1965, which calls on Argentina and Britain to seek a peaceful solution to the Falklands issue within the framework of UN Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960.  However, your letter omits mention of Argentina’s far from peaceful attempt to force a solution in 1982, when they illegally invaded our home, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1000 people.  Your letter also omits mention of the first two sections of Resolution 1514 (XV), which read as follows:

1. The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of World peace and co-operation.

2. All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

This is important on two fronts – firstly, our fundamental right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter and referenced in Resolution 1514, is what we have exercised in choosing to retain our relationship with Britain as an Overseas Territory.  We are not subjugated by Britain: we are entirely self-governing, except for defence and foreign affairs.  We democratically elect our Legislative Assembly Members; they are chosen by the people of the Falkland Islands to represent them and to determine and administer our own policies and legislation.  Secondly, as a community whose ancestry, history and cultural identity has been linked to Britain for nearly 200 years, we would consider any control by Argentina as alien, and therefore a denial of our rights as a people.

Whilst the Argentine Government’s calls for negotiations with the UK may seem benign, and a rational way to end any dispute, it should be noted that the Argentine Constitution as amended in 1994 allows for nothing but full Argentine sovereignty over our home.  As a result, there can be no negotiation on this issue, as Argentina already has a predetermined outcome in mind – this is no basis for discussion.  As far as we are concerned, sovereignty is not up for discussion.  On all other fronts, we want nothing more than to have a relationship of cooperation for mutual benefit, with Argentina and all of our neighbours.  Argentina were working towards a relationship of cooperation in the 1990s, and we entered into Joint Statements in 1990, 1995 and 1999 to co-operate in a number of areas, including hydrocarbons exploration, sustainable management of fish stocks and transportation links.  However, cooperation has proved impossible in recent years.  Despite the Falkland Islands upholding its side of the agreements, Argentina has unilaterally withdrawn from almost every element.

More recent Argentine actions – such as attempts to ban our ships from entering South American ports, Decree 256 which seeks to restrict innocent passage of vessels transiting to and from the Falkland Islands, the banning of charter flights in support of our tourism industry, laws taking sanctions against companies involved in peaceful commerce in both countries – all point to a desire by Argentina to frustrate our international trade and an attempt to isolate us.  We live under constant threat and harassment from Argentina, and are currently experiencing its attempts at an economic blockade.  We would ask that our rights, our points of view, and above all our wishes are respected and considered as enshrined in the UN Charter.

The Falkland Islanders are a peaceful, hard-working and resilient people.  Our society is thriving and forward-looking.  All we ask is to be left in peace to choose our own future, and responsibly develop our home for our children and generations to come.  We would strongly encourage you to come and visit our home, and to see for yourself our community and our heritage born of nine generations before supporting negotiations that do not take account of our right of self-determination, thus helping Argentina to justify its politically and economically aggressive actions against our home and people.  We would be happy to host you at a time of your convenience and arrange a programme to enable you to meet our people and explore our Islands.

Yours sincerely,

Sharon Halford MLA

On behalf of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands

The booklet is available for download here:

http://www.falklands.gov.fk//documents/30thBookletlr.pdf

 Nobel Peace Prize winners should not overlook the rights of the Falkland Islanders

 We were very disappointed to see news of 6 Nobel Peace Prize winners urging the UK Government to open negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.  As Falkland Islanders, we have no doubt as to our right to self-determination, and our sovereignty is not a matter that is up for discussion.  As people who have won the Peace Prize for their work championing human rights, we would hope that they would consider the rights of the Falkland Islanders as paramount in this issue.  We will be writing to each of the authors of the letter, explaining some of the issues that may have been overlooked or misunderstood, and encouraging them, as with all others, to come and visit us before reaching any conclusions. 

Hon. Sharon Halford

Member of the Legislative Assembly

PRESS STATEMENT

16^th March 2012

 Response to the Argentine Government’s intent to prosecute companies associated with Falkland Islands oil exploration

 The Falkland Islands Government regrets this latest attempt by the Argentine Government to economically undermine our home and our way of life.  In accordance with our right to self-determination, we are absolutely clear that we have the right to develop our own natural resources and are therefore entitled to license such activities as we see fit, without reference to Argentina.

 We are entirely clear that Argentine domestic legislation does not apply to the Falkland Islands, and that therefore there is absolutely no legal basis for the Argentine Government’s proposed actions.

 This latest announcement is yet another example of the Argentine Government’s policy of intimidation and bullying towards our country of 3000 people.   Efforts to disrupt trade and sea and air links to the Falkland Islands are illegal, and are entirely counter-productive in developing any relationship between the Falklands and Argentina.

 The Falkland Islands Government will work with any companies operating in our waters to minimise any practical implications for their operations that may arise from the Argentine Government’s proposed actions.

 Hon.Roger Edwards

Member of the Legislative Assembly

It is hard to comment on a speech that was quite unclear.  Neither we, nor the British Government, have had any approaches from Argentina on this.   What is clear though is the context in which these remarks were made: it is against a backdrop of Argentine aggression and attempts to isolate the Falkland Islands economically.  They have banned our vessels from their ports, stopped fishing companies from holding interests in both the Falklands and Argentina, and just this week turned away cruise vessels for having visited the Falkland Islands.  It is therefore very difficult not to be sceptical of any proposal that would in effect give Argentina control over access to our home.  If President de Kirchner is serious about wanting to develop air links with the Falklands, I hope Argentina will sit down with us and end their ban on charter flights to the Islands, and the restriction that limits the air link with Chile to one flight a week.

The Argentine Government claims to want to negotiate the 1999 Agreement.  There were many aspects to this agreement, which aimed to promote co-operation in areas such as fish stocks and mineral resources, and saw the resumption of flights from South America.  Whilst we have upheld our side of the bargain, the Argentine Government has systematically reneged on each of its commitments.  All that is left now from that original agreement are the flights from South America – which Argentina now wishes to revisit.  Negotiations must start from a position of trust, and it is hard to trust a Government who so easily break their word, and who deny our right to exist as a people.

Hon. Roger Edwards, Member of the Legislative Assembly

Two members of the Falklands Islands Legislative Assembly, Hon. Sharon Halford and Hon. Roger Edwards, have visited Grenada in the Caribbean to discuss the Falkland Islands right to self-determination with government ministers and senior officials.  This is a follow up to the visit of the Hon. Mike Summers and the Hon. Roger Edwards to Antigua, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis late last year.  They are sharing first-hand their experiences of life in the Falklands and internal governance of the Islands, but also the challenges they face in the United Nations for support for their right to self determination; the very principle enacted by the people of Grenada when choosing to become independent from the United Kingdom in 1974.   Respect for this principle remains a cornerstone of the United Nations Charter.

The Falkland Islanders remain a small, distinct and resolute island people.  Like many peoples around the world, many of the Islanders can trace their families back over several generations, having arrived from Europe through natural waves of ‘free choice’ migration in the mid-1800s.  The people of the Falkland Islands descend from the first known people to have settled the Falkland Islands over generations, as it had no indigenous population.

Many advances have been made in the constitutional relationship between the Falklands and the UK.  It is a relationship based on partnership, shared values and the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine whether they wish to retain their link with the UK.  The Falkland Islands Constitution devolves responsibility for all issues, with the exception of defence and foreign affairs.  The Falklands has developed its own full legislative and executive branches of government, with a dedicated civil service to implement Falklands’ government policy.

*****

Public Relations and Media Manager

Falkland Islands Government

dchristie@sec.gov.fk

The meeting, held in Grenada, was held under the theme “Prosperity Towards Sustainable Growth” and was attended by the UK Government and members of the Caribbean Community organisation (CARICOM).  Numerous Caribbean Heads of Government and Ministers attended the meeting, with the UK represented by the Foreign Secretary William Hague, and the Overseas Territories Minister Jeremy Browne.  The forum agreed an Action Plan containing agreements on a range of issues from climate change to sustainable development.  Of great significance to the Falkland Islands, the Forum agreed:

“To support the principle and the right to self determination for all peoples, including the Falkland Islanders, recognising the historical importance of self-determination in the political development of the Caribbean, and its core status as an internationally agreed principle under the United Nations Charter”

Member of the Legislative Assembly Jan Cheek said:

“We are delighted to have our rights recognised by our friends in the Caribbean.  We have much in common with island states all around the world, and we have long maintained our right as a people to determine the future of our home and country.  This basic right is what the Argentine Government are trying to deny us.”

The Action Plan endorses the position of the Falkland Islands people, who have chosen to retain their status as a British Overseas Territory.  The Argentine Government claim sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, and have adopted a policy of isolating the Falkland Islands from South America.

For further information please contact:

Darren Christie, Public Relations and Media Manager

dchristie@sec.gov.fk

+500 27400

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Stanley were informed of the problem on the afternoon of the 13th of January, and communicated the decision that evening following consultation with both the ship’s doctor and a consultant microbiologist in the UK.

This difficult decision was not been taken lightly, and was made in the wider interests of the public and tourism industry.  Norovirus is highly infectious, and causes potentially severe sickness and diarrhea.  It is spread easily by direct contact, touching contaminated surfaces, and through inhalation.  The virus has become a serious issue in hospitals and vessels around the world and can be very serious in the elderly and the very young.  An outbreak in the Falkland Islands would put enormous pressure on our limited medical resources, and jeopardise other scheduled cruise visits.

The Falkland Islands Government wish those affected a speedy recovery and an enjoyable onward journey, and hope to be able to welcome you to our beautiful home and country in the future.

This is only the second occasion that a tour vessel has ever had to be turned away from the Falkland Islands, with over 100 cruise visits welcomed every year.

In consultation with the cruise operator and local agent, a post-incident review is to take place.