SECOND FALKLAND'S WAR ON THE HORIZON ?

More than 30 years after the 'Falkland's War', the Argentinian government is still banging on about their claim to what they call 'Las Malvinas'. The current incumbents in Buenos Aires seem wholly reluctant to enter into realistic discussions and give every sign that they actually want to take us back to the dark days of 1982.

 

The British government had offered to host tripartite talks between representatives of the Foreign Office, the Argentinian government and members of the Falklands Islands government; but this offer has been rejected out of hand by the Argentinian Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, on the spurious grounds that "The international community does not recognise a third party in this dispute".

 

That Mr Timerman refuses to recognise that the Falkland Islanders should have a voice in this matter shows just how bigoted and intransigent his country's government is. It is quite obvious that the Falkland are an independent group of people who must have a say in their own future; their geographic location matters not one jot. There are small territories all over the world which look to distant foreign powers for aspects of their security or other governance, and it is ludicrous for the Argentinian government to lay claim to these islands purely on the basis of their location. Of course, the real reason, which is nothing to do with supposed Argentinian occupation of the islands before the British 'invaded' them, is mostly to do with the discovery of oil in the depths below the south Atlantic, which they want to control.

 

The people of the Falklands want to remain tied to the United Kingdom, just as do the people of Gibraltar. That anyone should suggest that the people of territories such as these should not be party to discussions about their futures and should not, in fact, have the major say in their eventual disposition, is not only ridiculous, it has all the hallmarks of dictatorship.

 

Given the stance of the Argentinian government and notwithstanding the views expressed at the United Nations, the UK should now tell the Argies to get lost. Argentina, or at least its current leadership, is backward looking and should be spending its time and money on internal affairs rather than stirring up ancient conflicts. Instead of sending troops to Mali, the UK government should be making sure that its own territories are secure and safe from foreign threats and invasions. One cannot help but suspect that a second 'Falkland's War' may not be far away.