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| Falklands: David Cameron defends islanders over planned referendum | Falklands: David Cameron defends islanders over planned referendum |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron accused the Argentinian government of trying to shout down the voices of islanders on the Falklands, as the territory announced a referendum next year on whether it wishes to stay British, a move likely to infuriate Buenos Aires. | David Cameron accused the Argentinian government of trying to shout down the voices of islanders on the Falklands, as the territory announced a referendum next year on whether it wishes to stay British, a move likely to infuriate Buenos Aires. |
| The referendum plan, which comes 30 years after the Falklands war, was announced as the Foreign Office minister, Jeremy Browne, visited the islands. | The referendum plan, which comes 30 years after the Falklands war, was announced as the Foreign Office minister, Jeremy Browne, visited the islands. |
| In a strongly worded statement, David Cameron said that Buenos Aires wants to put the islanders' choice of sovereignty in doubt "by shouting down the islanders' ability to speak for themselves and punishing them for exercising their own free choice. That's why it's absolutely right that the islanders have today set out how they intend to make their voices heard once more. And Britain will be resolute in supporting that choice." | In a strongly worded statement, David Cameron said that Buenos Aires wants to put the islanders' choice of sovereignty in doubt "by shouting down the islanders' ability to speak for themselves and punishing them for exercising their own free choice. That's why it's absolutely right that the islanders have today set out how they intend to make their voices heard once more. And Britain will be resolute in supporting that choice." |
| He added: "I have always said it is up to the Falkland Islanders themselves to choose whether they want to be British and that the world should listen to their views. | He added: "I have always said it is up to the Falkland Islanders themselves to choose whether they want to be British and that the world should listen to their views. |
| "Thirty years ago they made clear that they wanted to stay British. That's why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders. | "Thirty years ago they made clear that they wanted to stay British. That's why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders. |
| He added: "Next year's referendum will determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands. Britain will respect and defend their choice. We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the islanders' decision about how they want to live." | He added: "Next year's referendum will determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands. Britain will respect and defend their choice. We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the islanders' decision about how they want to live." |
| The referendum is a calculated response to the decision of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the Argentinian prime minister, to go to the UN this week to meet mid-ranking UN officials to discuss colonialism. She is scheduled to travel to the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, where she will try to put the Falkland Islands on to the agenda alongside Syria, Iran and the euro. | The referendum is a calculated response to the decision of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the Argentinian prime minister, to go to the UN this week to meet mid-ranking UN officials to discuss colonialism. She is scheduled to travel to the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, where she will try to put the Falkland Islands on to the agenda alongside Syria, Iran and the euro. |
| Cameron is likely to object to the issue being discussed at the G20. | Cameron is likely to object to the issue being discussed at the G20. |
| The chairman of the Falklands Islands legislative assembly, Gavin Short, insisted the referendum had not been imposed by the British, saying: "I have no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views. But we are aware that not everyone is able to come to these beautiful islands and to see this reality for themselves". | The chairman of the Falklands Islands legislative assembly, Gavin Short, insisted the referendum had not been imposed by the British, saying: "I have no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views. But we are aware that not everyone is able to come to these beautiful islands and to see this reality for themselves". |
| He accused the Argentinian government of deploying "misleading rhetoric that wrongly implies that we have no strong views or even that we are being held hostage by the UK military. This is simply absurd." | |
| He said the referendum will be organised by the Falkland Islands government and will take place in the first half of 2013. We will invite independent, international observers to observe the process and verify its outcome. Exact timings, the specific wording of the question, and other details will be announced in the coming weeks. | He said the referendum will be organised by the Falkland Islands government and will take place in the first half of 2013. We will invite independent, international observers to observe the process and verify its outcome. Exact timings, the specific wording of the question, and other details will be announced in the coming weeks. |
| "We are holding this referendum not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how very certain we are about that." | "We are holding this referendum not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how very certain we are about that." |
| The British foreign secretary, William Hague, said: "In a region that rightly prizes democracy and human rights, it is entirely appropriate that the islanders can express this fundamental right. The principle of self-determination is a key part of the United Nations charter. The voice of the Falkland Islands people should be heard. I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say." | The British foreign secretary, William Hague, said: "In a region that rightly prizes democracy and human rights, it is entirely appropriate that the islanders can express this fundamental right. The principle of self-determination is a key part of the United Nations charter. The voice of the Falkland Islands people should be heard. I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say." |
| Speaking on Tuesday from Port Stanley, the Falklands Islands' capital, Browne said: "Only the Falkland Islands people can determine how they wish to be governed. So I very much support this initiative by the Falkland Islands government. Indeed, I believe this referendum is a truly significant moment. It will give the Falkland Islands people the opportunity to send a clear message – not just to Argentina, but to the whole of the international community – that the islanders, and they alone, are masters of their fate." | Speaking on Tuesday from Port Stanley, the Falklands Islands' capital, Browne said: "Only the Falkland Islands people can determine how they wish to be governed. So I very much support this initiative by the Falkland Islands government. Indeed, I believe this referendum is a truly significant moment. It will give the Falkland Islands people the opportunity to send a clear message – not just to Argentina, but to the whole of the international community – that the islanders, and they alone, are masters of their fate." |
| He said he wanted to see the links between the two governments "deepen, long into the future. And if this proves to be the will of the Falkland Islands people, then we in the UK will not just respect it, but will continue actively to defend this act of self-determination from those who seek to challenge it." | He said he wanted to see the links between the two governments "deepen, long into the future. And if this proves to be the will of the Falkland Islands people, then we in the UK will not just respect it, but will continue actively to defend this act of self-determination from those who seek to challenge it." |