UK & World News
- 15 February 2012, 12:58
MPs To Visit Falklands Amid Argentine Anger
MPs are to visit the Falklands amid growing tensions between Britain and Argentina.
Members of the Defence Select Committee will go to the islands in March but the move could anger politicians in Buenos Aires.
They want to examine the "significant military presence" there, Thomas Docherty MP told The Times.
"One of my priorities given the historic connection this year will be the anniversary. It is important this year that we recognise the sacrifices made."
The Duke of Cambridge is currently taking part in a six-week search and rescue tour in the Falklands ahead of the 30th anniversary of the conflict.
But the MPs' plans have been described as "another provocation" by a spokesman for Argentine war veterans.
"Argentina does not want war - it wants peace and the return of our islands through diplomatic negotiation," Juan Mendicino told the paper.
"But the only thing that the English think about is war. We don't want visitors from your parliament.
"We want the UN to intervene as it has done in disputes across the world."
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon recently issued a statement indicating his "concern" about "increasingly strong exchanges" between David Cameron and President Cristina Kirchner.
Britain has deployed destroyer HMS Dauntless to the area but insisted the move was routine.
Argentina's foreign minister, Hector Timerman, has demanded to know whether a Vanguard submarine near the islands was carrying warheads.
"Are there nuclear weapons or are there not? The information Argentina has is that there are these nuclear weapons," he said.
Ambassador Sir Mark Lyall Grant said the UK did not comment on the location of nuclear weapons but dismissed the claim Britain is militarising the Falklands as "absurd".
British sovereignty over the islands was declared in 1833 but Argentina invaded on April 2, 1982.
In the brief conflict, 255 British servicemen and 655 Argentine servicemen were killed. Three Falkland Islanders also lost their lives.
what do you think?
David French
As long as the majority of the islanders want to remain British we must protect them from Argentinian claims of sovereignty and deter any repeated attempt of invasion by them.
hamish kay
all about oil. oil props up the stockmarkets and politicians the world over's wealth. the ordinary ppl suffer and fall for misinformation about wars. run cars on water no need for oil. hho systems like german submarines and some japanese cars. let whoever have falklands then no need to be there. oil props up banking, petrodollar recycle.
Windows Live User
No oil visible back in 1982. Remember these people are British by choice
chris
it's about Britain's ability to protect its interests, and those who have nasty neighbors and requset protection, around the world. Alot of regimes around the world would just love it if we declined to a point where we could no longer honour our commitments.
David Wragg
The Argentinians don't want our MPs to visit, so much for their concept of democracy. In fact the more people who visit the better - especially if they are Americans, Brazilians, etc, people who might sympathise with the Argentine and believe that it is a colony. As for defences, they are better than in 1982, but with just 4 fighter aircraft, they could be overwhelmed even by inferior aircraft if there were enough of them, and there will be. The only guarantee that is viable is the certainty that we could retake them, but thanks to Blair, Brown and now Cameron, that is no longer possible. The islanders, and those who died or received life-changing wounds, in 1982, have been betrayed.
Windows Live User
Award winning actor Sean Penn agrees with Argentinian President after talks with her. Bit one sided. Mr Penn should at least speak to representitives of the Islands before drawing up his conclusion Of course another pint of view is Mr Penn should mind his own business and let the Islanders decide where they want to be not where he wants them to be
David Wragg
Who is Sean Penn? Why is an actor's view important?
Windows Live User
David, Sean Penn starred in mphmpff mmmmm... it was Oh I know ... it was nope cant remember now. Argies pesident is a pretty girl. Wonder if that has anything to do with it?? LOL
andy may
argie prats. all the time the falklands are a british dependency we can send who and what we want there. the argies have a history of dictatorship and there trying it with us! they tried to take the islands by force and against the will of the islanders and got humiliated. any argies out there,democracy rules in advanced societies such as the uk, so you go back to destroying your own indigenous population and carrying on ruling by corruption and force. haven't you got enough land already without bothering about a small island a thousand miles off your coast.
David Wragg
Andy, it is further off the coast than most people think, but nowhere near a thousand miles, more like 350-400.
stevie may
If Brit MP's want to visit the Falklands, so what ? None of Argentinas business. . . .do we tell them how to run their territory ? No. They should not stick their nose into our business, not unless they want it bloodied again
hamish kay
argentina is upset about the oil there as oil runs economies and global banking system is tied to oil. i came across law that whoever owns/runs falklands gets mineral rights to part of antarctica. so it is a goldmine for politicians on both sides with payoff;s from both mineral and oil companies via stocks and shares. i say run cars on hho and no need for the probs there. gold is just pretty and storage medium of pharoes and kings. fish can be farmed effectively now so fishing licences are thing of past. it is all about power and money and ppl see through it.
Stuart Harley
...better get the Ark Royal back and quick !! and the Harriers, and the sailors !! and quick !!
hamish kay
better buy all the french exocets first that is if the argies have not stockpiled lots already, oh france is on our side now. what about rapiers, i forgot iran has rapier missile systems and that is uk made system so can we make enough of those for ourselves now to base there? all a con to prop up oil and arms industries and thus stockmarkets.
hamish kay
cameron has not read military history ref gaffe about britain junior partner in 1940 lol, but he has read political history. recession, strikes in 1980's and then 1982 falklands war, thatcher got in again on back of falklands war. not to mention interest rates rises and probs then the war. history repeats itself to quote winston spencer churchill.
Christopher Hodson
It is interesting now the boot is on the other foot. It is about time the UK received it's own medicine, so there is another country meddling in our countries actions. Hopefully the government will experience what it is like when their own country is interfered with. With a bit of luck it will teach this government not to meddle in other countries around the world. Proberbly not
Martin Anderson
11:45am on 15/2/2012
Now why are we wasting valuable money on sending MP's to the Falklands? Don't stir it any more Mr Cameron, this is a pointless and costly excercise.....and what benefit will these MP's gain? NONE
Windows Live User
12:05pm on 15/2/2012
a visit would be a good show of solidarity & our support to the British Islanders. Probably more valuable that to-ing and fro-ing to France & Germany over the EU problems
chris
12:08pm on 15/2/2012
I think you need to lean what the benefits are since you dont read the news etc.There are many benefits now and have always been. They need to be kept safe until the Falklanders want to leave there British Sovereignty.
David Wragg
12:32pm on 15/2/2012
The visit by a Commons select committee has NOTHING to do with Cameron! The MPs will gain a lot from their visit.
chris
12:44pm on 15/2/2012
I think you need to look up what a'Select committee' is first!