Minister: UK hopes Argentina's Falkland Islands 'bullying' ends

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34914413

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The UK government says it hopes Argentina's "bullying" of the Falkland Islands will end now that a new president has been elected.

Mauricio Macri was elected with 51.5%, ending the 12-year rule of outgoing president Cristina Kirchner's party.

The long-running dispute over the British overseas territory intensified after Ms Kirchner took power in 2007.

UK Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said he looked forward to working with the new administration.

'Bullying and bellicosity'

Mr Macri's victory in the presidential election was the first in more than a decade for Argentina's centre-right opposition and ends the rule of the Peronist Party.

The outgoing mayor of Buenos Aires, will take control of the presidency on 10 December.

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Swire said: "We look forward to working with the new government of Argentina who hopefully will not suffer from the bullying and bellicosity shown by the former government of Argentina to the people of the Falkland Islands."

It came in response to Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, who asked the government to call on new Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to continue his country's support for the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination when he visits the UK this week.

Falklands Islands dispute

Mr Swire told him: "You can be reassured we expect the same from Prime Minister Trudeau.

"He's on his way to London to meet with our prime minister and Her Majesty before travelling on to Chogm (Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting) in Valletta.

"We expect exactly the same relationship. It's an ancient and potent relationship between ourselves and Canada."

Argentina lays claim to the Falkland islands, which it calls the Malvinas, but the government says the claim has "no basis in international law" and should be withdrawn.

In 2013, Falkland Islanders took part in a referendum, voting by 1,513 to three to remain a British overseas territory.

Mr Macri is the outgoing mayor of Buenos Aires and will take control of the presidency on December 10.