Jeremy Browne: “No doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands”
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne has said there “cannot be negotiation on sovereignty unless and until the Falkland Islanders so wish,” following a statement by the Argentinean President.
Argentinean President Cristina Kirchner today at the EU-Latin America and Caribbean summit asked the UK to open negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Foreign Office Minister of State for Latin America, Jeremy Browne said:
“We have no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The principle of self determination as set out in the UN charter applies. There cannot be negotiation on sovereignty unless and until the Falkland Islanders so wish.
“The Lisbon Treaty clearly reaffirms the EU position that the Falkland Islands is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
“While we disagree with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, we have a close and productive relationship on a range of other issues, including on economic issues in the G20 and on climate change, sustainable development and counter-proliferation.”
Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, added:
“The Falkland Islands are associated with the European Union as an overseas territory of the UK in accordance with Articles 198/204 of Part Four of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.”