Britain reviews Falklands strategy as anniversary looms

Jan 18, 2012, 17:30 GMT

London/Buenos Aires - Britain has reviewed its strategy over the Falkland Islands in order to be able to 'respond quickly' to any developments in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the conflict with Argentina later this year, a government spokeswoman in London said Wednesday.

Speaking in parliament earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that Britain's National Security Council (NSC) - a security cabinet involving top military and intelligence officials - had discussed the issue of the Falkland Islands on Tuesday.

The spokeswoman confirmed that the government reviewed its strategy to 'ensure that the people of the Falklands remain free to choose their own future and also that we have the right approach in place to respond quickly and flexibly to any developments. They agreed that we have the right strategy in place.'

In earlier parliamentary exchanges, Cameron accused Argentina of 'colonialism' over the islands. 'What the Argentinians have been saying recently, I would argue, is far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentinians want them to do something else,' he said.

His comments drew a sharp response from Buenos Aires. 'I find it totally offensive, particularly coming from the British government,' Argentine Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo said.

He said he hoped Britain would 'accept the UN resolution and sit down to negotiate' sovereignty over the islands, added Randazzo.

Cameron said the anniversary celebrations in June would send a 'strong message' to Argentina that London will continue to defend the islanders' right to self-determination.

British sovereignty over the island in the South Atlantic continues to be disputed by Argentina. In 1982, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher went to war with Argentina over the islands, in which 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons died.

Cameron said it was 'very important' for Britain to commemorate the Falklands conflict in June this year.

'The absolutely vital point is that we are clear that the future of the Falkland Islands is a matter for the people themselves. As long as they want to remain part of the United Kingdom and be British, they should be able to do so.'

The reason why the issue was discussed at the NSC was to 'make sure nobody is in any doubt that Britain supports that right of self-determination, and we will go on doing so for as long as people in the Falklands want to continue in that way.'

A source close to Cameron said later there had been 'a lot of rhetoric going on from Argentina' recently and the prime minister was 'keen to show how important the protection of the Falklanders and their self-determination is to him.'

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