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Argentina steps up Falklands row Argentina steps up Falklands row
(about 3 hours later)
Argentina has imposed new controls on shipping to the Falkland Islands in a growing oil dispute with the UK. Argentina has announced new controls on shipping through its waters to the Falkland Islands in a growing dispute over British oil drilling plans.
The Argentine government has ordered ships heading to the islands via its waters to apply for permission first. A permit will be needed by ships using Argentine waters en route to the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - all UK controlled.
The move comes as Argentina has become increasingly agitated at the forthcoming start of oil drilling in Falkland Islands territorial waters. The UK Foreign Office said the Falkland Islands' waters were controlled by its authorities and would not be affected.
Argentina claims sovereignty over the British Overseas Territory, and it invaded the islands in 1982. Argentina has protested to the UK about oil exploration due to begin this year.
The UK sent a taskforce which seized back control over the Falklands after a short war in which 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers died. Buenos Aires claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls Islas Malvinas.
Although that conflict was 28 years ago, tensions remain over the islands - which Argentina calls the Islas Malvinas. It has previously threatened that any company exploring for oil and gas in the waters around the territory will not be allowed to operate in Argentina.
Islands included The sabre-rattling over oil is just the latest episode in a dispute that's remained unresolved since the Falklands War Peter BilesBBC world affairs correspondent class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7516&edition=2">Have Your Say: How serious is row?
Earlier this month, Argentina protested to the UK about the start of the oil drilling work, which is expected to begin in the first half of this year. Last week, a ship carrying drilling equipment was detained by Argentine officials.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Tuesday signed a decree that requires all vessels travelling between Argentina and the islands or those that want to cross Argentine territorial waters en route to the Falklands to seek prior permission. BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles says Argentine anger has been "brewing for a while".
The government Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernandez said the decree sought to achieve "not only a defence of Argentine sovereignty but also of all the resources" in the area. "The sabre-rattling over oil in the South Atlantic is just the latest episode in a dispute that's remained unresolved since the Falklands War nearly 28 years ago," he said.
He said the measure also applied to vessels going to the other nearby British controlled islands in the South Atlantic - South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. After Argentina's invasion of the islands in 1982, a UK taskforce seized back control in a short war that claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers.
The British Foreign Office said the decree would not affect shipping through the area. 'Defence of resources'
"Regulations governing Argentine territorial waters are a matter for the Argentine authorities. This does not affect Falkland Islands territorial waters which are controlled by the island authorities," its said in a statement. On Tuesday, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez signed a decree requiring all vessels travelling between Argentina and the islands, or those that want to cross Argentine territorial waters en route to the Falklands, to seek prior permission.
It added that Argentina and Britain were "important partners" and pledged to "co-operate" on issues in the South Atlantic, where the Falklands are located. Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernandez said the decree sought to achieve "not only a defence of Argentine sovereignty but also of all the resources" in the area.
A drilling rig from the Scottish highlands, the Ocean Guardian, is expected to arrive in the coming weeks to begin oil exploration. He said the measure also applied to vessels going to the other nearby UK-controlled islands in the South Atlantic - South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
It is not clear whether Argentina intends waters surrounding the disputed islands, considered part of the British Overseas Territories, to be subject to the new controls.
"Regulations governing Argentine territorial waters are a matter for the Argentine authorities," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement.
"This does not affect Falkland Islands territorial waters which are controlled by the island authorities."
It added that the UK and Argentina were "important partners" with a "close and productive relationship".
"We want, and have offered, to co-operate on South Atlantic issues. We will work to develop this relationship further," the statement said.
A drilling rig from the Scottish highlands, the Ocean Guardian, is due to arrive this week and drilling could begin within months.
Geologists think the South Atlantic ocean bed surrounding the Falklands could contain rich energy reserves.Geologists think the South Atlantic ocean bed surrounding the Falklands could contain rich energy reserves.
Are you in the Falkland Islands? What do you think about the row? How serious an issue is it for the islands? Send us your comments using the form below. Are you in the Falkland Islands? What do you think about the row? How serious an issue is it for the islands and for UK-Argentine ties? Send us your comments using the form below.
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