The Independent reports that Lib Dem foreign office minister Jeremy Browne has turned down an invitation to attend talks in Argentina when he visits the Falklands next week in what appears to be a diplomatic but pretty unambiguous FU from the FO:
“We have today received an invitation from Argentina’s foreign minister, Hector Timmerman, for Mr Browne to visit Buenos Aires next week,” the spokesman said. “However he has a full schedule of events in the Falkland Islands to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the conflict there. This has been arranged for some time.
“Mr Browne is grateful for the invitation. The UK has a long-standing interest in building a stronger partnership with Argentina on a broad range of issues of mutual interest. The only issue that we will not discuss is the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, unless and until the islanders wish us to do so.” …
Earlier this week, Mr Browne accused Argentina of “domineering” behaviour amid continued tensions between the two countries surrounding the anniversary commemorations. He described the announcement by the government in Buenos Aires that it was launching criminal proceedings against UK oil firms operating off the Falklands as another attempt to hinder the economic development of the islands.
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7 Comments
“The UK has a long-standing interest in building a stronger partnership with Argentina on a broad range of issues of mutual interest. The only issue that we will not discuss is the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, unless and until the islanders wish us to do so.”
Absolutely correct Jeremy.
The Argentines knew that Jeremy Browne would refuse this invitation. They know that government ministers don’t drop their schedule at a week’s notice just because they get an invitation to meet a minister from another country. What did they think they would gain by making this pointless invitation at the last minute? No-one is going to be stupid enough to fall for the “Britain refuses to […]” line, are they?
“No-one is going to be stupid enough to fall for the “Britain refuses to […]” line, are they?”
To be honest, for precisely that reason, I’d have preferred it if Browne had of accepted the invitation and added an extra day to his trip to accomodate it, if it were at all possible. Sovereignty is not negotiable without the consent on the Islanders and the Argentines are basically irrational about the Falklands, but unfortunately, much of the world only takes a glance at the situation and sees us as the party in the wrong. That, unfairly, creates an onus on us to be as above-board and diplomatic as possible. Though in the scheme of things, it probably makes little difference and the decision by the FCO to stick it to Argentina in this one instance won’t really damage us, I suppose.
This is a missed opportunity – there is no possible justification for Browne not changing his decsion and meeting them. He needs to explain to the Argentinians why their claim on the Falklands is invalid. He needs to seek every opportunity to do this, including by giving a speech to the Arentinian people or parliament. He needs to point out that, by opening up their ports to Falklands oil service companies, they can gain a share of the wealth of any oil or ga s finds. With confidence in good political will, it could even be in everyone’s interest to build a pipeline from Argentina northwards.
Jeremy Browne the Foreign Office Minister is absolutely right to shun the Argentines, at this critical time of the 30th anniversary of the loss of 255 British `Task Force’ members and 3 Falklanders.There will be many families this month, remembering the ultimate sacrifices made by the British armed services in 1982, as a result of the `gun-ho’, sabre rattling Argentines! Talks can resume when the Argentine government ameliorate to the sovereignty question, that clearly remains in the hands of the Falkland Islanders themselves.
Stupid move – people like Timmerman who together with his father have a good record of standing up for human rights in Argentina are the ones with whom we should be establishing a dialogue. All this move will do is strengthen the arm of the more nationalistic elements within Argentina.
Oh, this is a classic piece of diplo-talk!
The clue is provided in the statement where it states the diary schedule has been fixed for some time, as clearly the Argentines are trying to score a simple point by deliberately breaking official protocol in an attempt to cause public embarassment.
Not an indication that they should be trusted.