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Falkland Islands

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Welcome to Falkland Estate|

Citizens of the Falkland Islands headed to the polls today. In question is a referendum on whether they would like to continue being part of the United Kingdom or become a part of Argentina.|

Buenos Aires claims the islands are occupied Argentinian territory.|

“The Falkland Islanders do not exist. What exists is British citizens who live in the Islas Malvinas,” Timerman said at the Argentinian ambassador’s residence, using the Spanish-language name for the windswept, barren isles.|

To get to the islands from abroad you need to use Mount Pleasant (MPN) airport (which is also a military base). The only international carrier flying here is LAN Chile and there are flights from Santiago de Chile and . UK Air Force also carries passengers directly from the UK.|

The Falkland Islands comprise two large islands and several hundred smaller islands, located in the south Atlantic Ocean. They are actually United Kingdom overseas territory but Argentina (located near-by) claims jurisdiction.|

-- Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has again opened the dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic,|

There are several eateries in Falkland including tea rooms, pubs and restaurants. The cafe is based on Falkland Estate.|

In evidence given to the Falkland Islands Review Committee in October 1982, and some months after the war ended, Thatcher said there were no warning signs from Argentina since its 1977 statement saying there would be talks.|

The Falkland Islands|

All but three voters in the Falkland Islands cast ballots in favor of maintaining British rule, but Argentina, which claims the islands, dismissed the referendum as a meaningless stunt.|

Argentines are taught in schools that Britain stole the Falklands in 1833, when warships ousted a small Argentine garrison. Foreign Minister Hector Timerman says the islands are part of Argentina.|

-- Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has again opened the dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic,|

ARGENTINA’S President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made a highly unusual appearance at the United Nations decolonisation committee yesterday, where she argued that the Falklands Islands are Argentine territory and should not be under British rule. Fernandez's decision to speak to a committee that is typically the realm of mid-ranking diplomats is the latest move in her wide-ranging diplomatic offensive to assert her country's claims to the islands, which are part of Britain's self-governing overseas territories. United Nations envoys said Fernandez had asked the Special Committee on Decolonisation to hold a session on the islands on 14 June - the 30th anniversary of Britain's 1982 victory in the 10-week war over the Falklands that ended Argentina's brief occupation of the territory, reports. Fernandez told the committee the fact that ‘Las Malvinas’ remain under British rule and are not part of Argentina is "an affront to the world which we all dream of”. She asked: “How can it be part of British territory when it's 14,000 miles away?" Fernandez, who spoke for nearly an hour, repeated Buenos Aires' allegations that Britain has militarised the southwest Atlantic in recent months, a charge London denies. Earlier, Fernandez met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who reiterated his offer to mediate in Argentina's dispute with Britain if the two sides request it. The UK says it will agree to talks only if the 3,000 islanders want them - something they show no sign of doing, says the . Roger Edwards, a member of the Falkland Islands' Legislative Assembly, told the committee his peoples’ right of self-determination was guaranteed under the UN charter and would be exercised in a referendum early next year on whether to retain British rule. "Today, therefore, all that we ask for is the right to determine our own future without having to endure the belligerent and bullying tactics of a neighbouring country," he said. He also cited an opinion poll that found 96 per cent of the islanders wanted to keep British rule. In an extraordinary scene, another Falklands legislator, Mike Summers, tried to pass a letter offering talks with the islands’ government to President Fernandez but could not get close enough. Argentina's foreign minister refused to take the document, telling the legislator to "send it to my embassy". Meanwhile, in London, Prime Minister David Cameron warned Argentina that the UK is "ready and willing" to defend the Falkland Islands, says. Cameron also accused the Argentine government of "aggression" and said there would be "absolutely no negotiation" over sovereignty. Cameron, speaking at a reception to commemorate the end of the war, said the Falklands was enjoying economic growth and industries such as tourism and fishing were thriving. "There is only one shadow on the horizon. And that is the aggression from over the water,” he said.|

Two days of voting begins Sunday. The 1,700 eligible voters will answer one question: "Do you wish the Falklands Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?"|

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