Argentina to approach UN on dispute with UK over Falklands

Herald Globe Wednesday 8th February, 2012

BUENOS AIRES - Simmering tensions over the Falklands Islands came into the open with Argentina saying it will lodge a formal protest with the United Nations over Britain's 'militarisation' of the South Atlantic.

The announcement by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner comes days after Britain sent one of its most lethal warships - HMS Dauntless, to the South Atlantic, off the Falklands.

Speaking at a meeting of MPs, senior officials, and veterans of the 1982 war that Argentina fought with Britain over the Falkland Islands, Kirchner said it was a "regional and global cause because they are militarising the South Atlantic once more".

The islands are known in Argentina as the Malvinas.

Adding to the discontent was the visit by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, to the islands. Williams, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot and second in line to the throne, is on a six week tour of duty in the islands as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

"The sending of a destroyer to accompany the Royal heir is a militarisation of the South Atlantic," Kirchner said.

"We will present a complaint to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as this militarisation poses a grave danger to international security."

Britain has described the move to send the destroyer and Prince William's visit as "routine".

Kirchner also asked British Prime Minister David Cameron "to give peace a chance". As she spoke, a crowd waving Argentine flags rallied near the government palace, shouting "Malvinas".

The British UK Foreign Office later issued a statement: "The people of the Falkland Islands are British out of choice. They are free to determine their own future and there will be no negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty unless the islanders wish it."

Britain has held the Falkland Islands since 1833.

The two countries went to war over the islands in 1982. Tensions over the island deepened in 2010 after four British companies announced plans to search for oil around the archipelago. The explorers are targeting 8.3 billion barrels in the waters this year.