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Argentina steps up Falklands row Argentina steps up Falklands row
(39 minutes later)
Argentina has announced new controls on shipping through its waters to the Falkland Islands in a growing dispute over British oil drilling plans. Argentina has announced new controls on ships passing through its waters to the Falkland Islands in a growing dispute over British oil drilling plans.
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. A permit will now be needed by ships using Argentine waters en route to the Falklands, South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands - all UK controlled.
Argentina has protested to the UK about oil exploration due to begin next week.
The UK Foreign Office said the Falkland Islands' waters were controlled by its authorities and would not be affected.The UK Foreign Office said the Falkland Islands' waters were controlled by its authorities and would not be affected.
Argentina has protested to the UK about oil exploration due to begin this year. 'Pathetic and useless'
Buenos Aires claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls Islas Malvinas.Buenos Aires claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls 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.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.
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.
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.
Last week, a ship carrying drilling equipment was detained by Argentine officials.Last week, a ship carrying drilling equipment was detained by Argentine officials.
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 Q&A: The Falklands oil row Have Your Say: How serious is row? While, of course, Argentina is free to do what it wants in its territorial waters, I don't think they have any right to interfere in ours Jan CheekFalklands' Legislative Assembly Q&A: The Falklands oil row Have Your Say: How serious is row?
But a drilling rig from the Scottish highlands, the Ocean Guardian, is nearing the islands and due to start drilling next week, the UK-based company Desire Petroleum has said.But a drilling rig from the Scottish highlands, the Ocean Guardian, is nearing the islands and due to start drilling next week, the UK-based company Desire Petroleum has said.
A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the growing dispute between the UK and Argentina over oil and gas exploration. However, a spokesman for the company declined to comment on the growing dispute between the UK and Argentina over oil and gas exploration.
BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles said Argentine anger had been "brewing for a while". Chairman of the Parliamentary all-party Falklands group, Sir Nicholas Winterton, said the Argentine decree was "pathetic and useless" and designed simply to try to impede the economic progress of the islands.
He said he would seek a meeting with senior Foreign Office officials to discuss the issue next week.
BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles said Argentine anger over the issue had been "brewing for a while".
He said: "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: "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 did not think events would escalate "at this stage" but added uncertainty remained over what the Argentines regarded as their territorial waters. Ocean expanse
"Are they simply talking about the waters offshore or are they talking about the waters around the Falklands, to which they still claim sovereignty and have never renounced that claim since the 1982 Falklands War?" he said on BBC Radio 5 live. He told BBC Radio 5 live he did not think events would escalate "at this stage" but uncertainty remained over what the Argentines regarded as their territorial waters.
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 waters surrounding the disputed islands are considered part of the British Overseas Territories. After Argentina's invasion of the Falklands in 1982, a UK taskforce seized back control in a short war that claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers.
'Defence of resources' The waters surrounding the disputed islands are considered by the UK as part of the British Overseas Territories.
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.
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.
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.
We want, and have offered, to co-operate on South Atlantic issues. We will work to develop this relationship further UK Foreign Office statementWe want, and have offered, to co-operate on South Atlantic issues. We will work to develop this relationship further UK Foreign Office statement
Buenos Aires believes that the UK is illegally occupying the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. But Buenos Aires believes the UK is illegally occupying the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Last year it submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by Britain.Last year it submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by Britain.
Jan Cheek, a member of the Falklands' Legislative Assembly, told BBC Radio 5 live the new controls were part of a "continuing irritation for us".Jan Cheek, a member of the Falklands' Legislative Assembly, told BBC Radio 5 live the new controls were part of a "continuing irritation for us".
"While, of course, Argentina is free to do what it wants in its territorial waters, I don't think they have any right to interfere in ours," she said."While, of course, Argentina is free to do what it wants in its territorial waters, I don't think they have any right to interfere in ours," she said.
She added Argentina had in the past "interfered" by refusing charter flights heading to the Falklands through its air space, and stopping fishing and cargo vessels.She added Argentina had in the past "interfered" by refusing charter flights heading to the Falklands through its air space, and stopping fishing and cargo vessels.
"It's more of the same and we come to expect it when Argentina's government are experiencing difficulties at home. We're a very convenient distraction.""It's more of the same and we come to expect it when Argentina's government are experiencing difficulties at home. We're a very convenient distraction."
Following the Argentine presidential decree, a UK Foreign Office statement said: "Regulations governing Argentine territorial waters are a matter for the Argentine authorities. A UK Foreign Office statement said: "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.""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".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."We want, and have offered, to co-operate on South Atlantic issues. We will work to develop this relationship further," the statement said.
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 and for UK-Argentine ties? 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.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions