STATEMENTS BY THE DELEGATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Statements made on 21 May 2010
The delegation of the United Kingdom deeply regrets the need to make an intervention
following the statement by the distinguished delegate of the Argentine Republic.
The delegation of the United Kingdom does not believe that this is the appropriate forum to
raise sovereignty issues of any kind.
In reference to the content of the statement made by the delegation of Argentina,
the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has no doubt
about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands and their surrounding maritime areas. The United Kingdom firmly rejects the claim by
the Government of Argentina to sovereignty over those islands and maritime areas.
The principle of self-determination, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, underlies
our position on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. There can be no negotiation on the
sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until such time as the Falkland Islanders so
wish. The Islanders regularly make it clear that they wish the Falkland Islands to remain
under British sovereignty.
In reference to the United Kingdom’s right to include the Falkland Islands within the
European Union LRIT Data Centre, the United Kingdom recalls that the Falkland Islands are
associated with the European Union in accordance with Part Four of the Treaty of the
Functioning of the European Union, specifically Articles 198-204. The Falkland Islands are
listed specifically in Annex II of the same Treaty as Overseas Countries and Territories to
which provisions of Part Four of the Treaty apply. The United Kingdom has no doubt about
its right to include the Falkland Islands within the European Union LRIT Data Centre.
The delegation would like to request that the content of this statement is included as an
annex to the report of the meeting.
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