“Views of the people of the Falkland Islands cannot be dismissed”
Speaking following comments made by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina in the Security Council debate on Cooperation between the UN and Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations, UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said:
“President Kirchner said in the Council that the United Kingdom and Argentina should discuss the Falkland Islands. I want to reiterate that any such discussion is not just a matter for the two governments. There are three parties to the debate. The views of the people of the Falkland Islands cannot be dismissed. There can be no discussion on the sovereignty of the Islands unless and until the Islanders so wish. They made their views unequivocally clear in the referendum in March when they voted overwhelmingly to remain a UK Overseas Territory.
“The United Kingdom fully respects all its obligations and responsibilities as a member of the United Nations. The principle of self-determination on which our position on the Falkland Islands is based is enshrined in the UN Charter.”