Two important missions from Argentina to the United Kingdom, one for Energy, and the other for Science and Technology, could not prevent this Friday that the sovereignty conflict over the Falklands was once again interposed on the agenda.
It so happens that on the anniversary of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the islanders issued a harsh statement in which they again compared the current situation of the Ukrainians against Russia with theirs in 1982 against Argentina, which they
called of “hostile invader”.
“One year ago today, Russia carried out an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
To commemorate this sad anniversary, the Government of the Falkland Islands and the community continue to express their support for Ukraine in its fight for peace against a hostile nation," said the statement issued this Friday from the Legislative Assembly in Puerto Argentino / Puerto Stanley and with the hashtag that the islands support Ukraine.
By the way, the local flag flew in front of the bay of the capital next to the yellow and blue Ukrainian one.
In Malvinas they compare the Russian invasion of Ukraine with that of Argentina to the islands in 1982
Throughout this year, the islanders echoed the close British collaboration with the Ukrainians.
And as they did on several occasions, they said it “resonated deeply with Falkland Islanders
,
who have also experienced invasion by a hostile neighbor,
intent on seizing land and assuming sovereignty, without concern for the safety or the rights of the people who live here.”
It was clearly
a reference to Argentina,
whose government they have been scolding over and over again when they disagree with some measure of the continent.
The most recent short circuit was because the Government did not authorize Latam airlines to resume its San Pablo/Mount Pleasant route with a monthly stopover in Córdoba.
This had been initiated in the final stretch of the
Mauricio Macri
government and was suspended with the restrictive measures of the coronavirus quarantine.
And now they won't replace it.
To tell the truth,
Argentina claims a national flag flight with a stopover in Buenos Aires.
A fact that the islanders refuse to concede based on an old policy of punishment for what happened in 1982.
Last November, Governor Allyson Blake had said that the islands were suffering from "a persistent and rude Argentine presence that is not at all friendly, a presence that they are in charge of highlighting, they emerge with this type of attitude, aggressive if not insulting messages on our social networks, always doing statements
denying the Islanders' right to self-determination
”.
And she assures that during 2021 and 2022, there have been "very forceful statements of support for the Falklands, its people and their right to self-determination in all possible forums, by the United Kingdom".
For her part, this Friday the president of the Legislative Assembly, MLA Leona Roberts, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of the Falkland Islands community remain with the Ukrainian people.
The events in Ukraine continue to shock freedom-loving people around the world, and the extraordinary courage and resilience shown by the Ukrainian people over the course of this long year fills us with admiration and respect.”
The islands this Friday, February 24, 2023 with the Ukrainian flag waving
And he returned to the question.
“Last year the Falkland Islands were able to celebrate 40 years of freedom after the Falklands War, we are confident that one day the Ukrainian people will also be able to celebrate peace and freedom once again.”
March will mark the tenth anniversary of the referendum that was held on the islands and in which, more as a symbolic fact -because it is not binding- almost 99% of the population identified themselves as British.
In this Friday's statement, they recalled that the island community raised up to £
42,038.10 to help those displaced by the war in Ukraine.
The other side of the relationship
Despite the fact that the agenda is strongly "malvinizada" in political aspects, Argentina and the United Kingdom continue their ties of cooperation and interest in other areas.
One of them was seen these days with the mission in that country of the Secretary of Energy Flavia Royón.
The official participated in SubseaExpo, the most important conference in offshore matters.
She spent two days in Aberdeen and two in London.
And with her traveled the British ambassador here, Kirsty Hayes.
In parallel,
Ana Franchi, the president of the National Council for
Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet) also traveled on a mission on Renewable Energies, Gender in Science, Human and Animal Health, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space .
look too
Argentina voted at the UN in favor of an "immediate" withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
look too
The United States highlighted the Argentine rejection of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
