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Seeking Commonwealth Support; Support for the Falklands Referendum
Topic Started: Mar 10 2013, 02:56 AM (91 Views)
PolishPrince
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William Hague
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Commonwealth,

As many, or probably most of you, are aware; in March of next year there will be a referendum carried out on the Falkland Islands, which will determine whether or not the United Kingdom enters into Sovereignty negotiations with Argentina. Some nations, namely Russia and Argentina, challenge the legitimacy of this referendum - and claim that will be an illegal referendum which should have no bearing on the Sovereignty of the Islands. Her Majesties' Government disagrees. We feel that the referendum will accurately express the will of the Falkland Islanders, who have lived there for three plus generations.

We feel that in the spirit of the UN, human rights and democracy, that this referendum is extremely important in determining the Sovereignty of the Islands. Without it, it would be a case of two powers engaged in archaic, colonial negotiations over an Islands Sovereignty. With the referendum, we are saying that the UK is not intransigent on the subject but we are, in fact, entirely dedicated to allowing the Falkland Islanders the democratic right to determine their own future.

With that in mind, we have prepared a document which we would like fellow Commonwealth nations to consider signing. The document will support the principle of the referendum, and provide support for the democratic rights to self determination for the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands.

I ask that you all give it your due and careful consideration and those who are willing, to sign it.

Document of Support
 


Statement of Support for the Falkland Islands Referendum

We the undersigned, wish to declare to the international community that we support the right the right to self determination which is afforded to the Falkland Islanders under Article 5 of the UN Charter;

The Falkland Islands dispute has gone on for far too long, and the rights and wrongs of past actions should not be allowed to dictate the future of those individuals who currently inhabit the Falkland Islands. To take away their right to choose their own fate, by resolving the matter in a way that does not involve a referendum to ensure that their will is the paramount consideration, is to return to colonialism at it’s worst;

We sign this document in complete support for the right of the inhabitants of the Islands, and pray the results will be considered the final resolution of the matter;

We sign this document without pledging our support for either of the competing claims, be they British or Argentinian;

And do sign it only in support of the rights of the Falkland Islanders and in support of the referendum to be carried out in March 2014.
Edited by PolishPrince, Mar 10 2013, 02:57 AM.
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Publius
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Posted Image Salman Khurshid
Minister of External Affairs

"Archaic colonial negotiations?" Negotiations would have prevented us from having to go into Goa to retake our territory and have served the world much better than hapless unilateral actions. What is needed for a permanent settlement is a negotiation that grants the Argentine government the chance to save face, possibly with some sort of symbolic partial lease of water rights with limited compensation from the world community for descendants of the small community forced off the islands in the 19th century, rather than further inflamed unilateral action by the parties to this dispute.

We do not support a unilateral resolution to this conflict by either party, despite our respect for the self determination rights of the residents, and would like to urge the members of this body not to sign this letter. It is not animus towards Britain or its position that drives this urging, India made a substantial investment in the future of the area as recently as 2012 and our country likes to think it has solid ties with both parties, but we cannot stand with those who would see either side give the finger to the future prospect of a negotiated settlement.

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PolishPrince
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William Hague
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom


I say archaic because we cannot simply give away land without respecting the will of its inhabitants. Surely you can see the logic, Mr. Khurshid. Whatever happened so long ago, cannot be used as an excuse for us to treat the territory as we would an old piece of furniture.

Secondly, we would highlight that any inhabitants who were possibly displaced so long ago would have been Spanish citizens, not Argentinians.

Finally, we would highlight that many Britain's were displaced by the Spanish only a few years before we retook the Islands; should their descendants receive compensation?
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