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Falklands Olympic ad an insensitive stunt, says UK Argentina's Falklands Olympic ad an insensitive stunt, says UK
(about 2 hours later)
Britain has criticised Buenos Aires for broadcasting a television advertisement referring to the Falkland Islands as "Argentine soil", accusing it of staging provocative and insensitive stunts to garner support for its claim to the overseas territory. Britain has criticised Argentina for broadcasting a television advertisement referring to the Falkland Islands as "Argentine soil", accusing it of staging provocative and insensitive stunts to garner support for its claim to the overseas territory.
The ad was filmed secretly on the islands and shows an Argentinian hockey player training at a variety of manifestly British landmarks, including steps apparently leading to a war memorial. It was aired on Wednesday and appears to have been timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano, as well as the runup to the London Olympics. The ad was filmed secretly on the islands and shows an Argentinian hockey player training at a variety of manifestly British landmarks, including steps apparently leading to a war memorial. It was aired on Wednesday and appears to have been timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the Belgrano, as well as the runup to the London Olympics.
After a series of shots showing Fernando Zylberberg running and exercising, the clip carries the message: "To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil". Using the Argentinian name for the islands, the ad is entitled: "Olympic Games 2012: Homage to the Fallen and the Veterans of the Malvinas".After a series of shots showing Fernando Zylberberg running and exercising, the clip carries the message: "To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil". Using the Argentinian name for the islands, the ad is entitled: "Olympic Games 2012: Homage to the Fallen and the Veterans of the Malvinas".
The Foreign Office condemned what it interpreted as an attempt to "exploit the Games".The Foreign Office condemned what it interpreted as an attempt to "exploit the Games".
A spokeswoman said: "The Olympics is about sport and not politics. We are also dismayed at the insensitivity and disrespect demonstrated by the film-makers in their use of a war memorial in the Falklands as a prop."A spokeswoman said: "The Olympics is about sport and not politics. We are also dismayed at the insensitivity and disrespect demonstrated by the film-makers in their use of a war memorial in the Falklands as a prop."
She added: "The people of the Falklands are British and have chosen to be so. They remain free to choose their own futures both politically and economically and have a right to self-determination."She added: "The people of the Falklands are British and have chosen to be so. They remain free to choose their own futures both politically and economically and have a right to self-determination."
Speaking on Sky News, William Hague said the ad followed a failed attempt by the Argentinian government to make other countries at the Sixth Summit of the Americas issue a declaration supporting Buneos Aires's claim of sovereignty. Speaking on Sky News, William Hague said the ad followed a failed attempt by the Argentinian government to make other countries at the Sixth Summit of the Americas issue a declaration supporting Buenos Aires's claim of sovereignty.
The foreign secretary said: "I think what is happening is they are looking for one or two stunts to try and make up for that, or save a bit of pride somehow. But I don't think trying to misuse the Olympics in some way for political purposes will go down very well with other countries."The foreign secretary said: "I think what is happening is they are looking for one or two stunts to try and make up for that, or save a bit of pride somehow. But I don't think trying to misuse the Olympics in some way for political purposes will go down very well with other countries."
He said the ad didn't change the UK's position: "We will always support the right to self-determination of the people of the Falkland Islands."He said the ad didn't change the UK's position: "We will always support the right to self-determination of the people of the Falkland Islands."
Anger at the advert was also expressed by residents of the archipelago, who insist they want the land to remain British.Anger at the advert was also expressed by residents of the archipelago, who insist they want the land to remain British.
Ian Hansen, a local legislator, told the BBC the film was "cheap and disrespectful propaganda" which had been made without the knowledge or permission of local authorities.Ian Hansen, a local legislator, told the BBC the film was "cheap and disrespectful propaganda" which had been made without the knowledge or permission of local authorities.
"It is deeply sad to see Mr Zylberberg clambering over a war memorial. Sadly this illustrates the disrespect the Argentine authorities have for our home and our people," he said. "At no stage does the video feature any Falkland Islanders – a clear reflection of Argentina's policy, which is to pretend that the people of the Falkland Islands do not exist.""It is deeply sad to see Mr Zylberberg clambering over a war memorial. Sadly this illustrates the disrespect the Argentine authorities have for our home and our people," he said. "At no stage does the video feature any Falkland Islanders – a clear reflection of Argentina's policy, which is to pretend that the people of the Falkland Islands do not exist."
Last month the Argentinian sports secretary, Claudio Morresi, told Reuters that his nation's athletes would not be using the Olympics for political ends.Last month the Argentinian sports secretary, Claudio Morresi, told Reuters that his nation's athletes would not be using the Olympics for political ends.
"The Argentine delegation will travel to London with the conviction in their minds and hearts that the Malvinas are Argentine, but all they will be going to London to do is take part in the sporting event," he said."The Argentine delegation will travel to London with the conviction in their minds and hearts that the Malvinas are Argentine, but all they will be going to London to do is take part in the sporting event," he said.
But the ad clearly uses the Games to exacerbate growing tensions over the islands, for which Britain and Argentina went to war 30 years ago. The government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has pushed for talks with London over the islands, but David Cameron has made clear his belief in the residents' right to self-determination.But the ad clearly uses the Games to exacerbate growing tensions over the islands, for which Britain and Argentina went to war 30 years ago. The government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has pushed for talks with London over the islands, but David Cameron has made clear his belief in the residents' right to self-determination.
In the clip, Zylberberg is shown frowning at a Union flag, before running past island landmarks such as the Globe Tavern, Penguin News, a red telephone box and doing step-ups on what reports said was a war memorial.In the clip, Zylberberg is shown frowning at a Union flag, before running past island landmarks such as the Globe Tavern, Penguin News, a red telephone box and doing step-ups on what reports said was a war memorial.
The hockey player told Argentinian radio: "The idea was to get the message through that the Malvinas are Argentine."The hockey player told Argentinian radio: "The idea was to get the message through that the Malvinas are Argentine."