Falklands II

[andrewman~SPARTA~]

Tensions over British plans to drill for oil off the Falkland Islands continue to increase as Argentina's foreign minister prepares to meet the UN secretary-general.

 

Britain is under fire for allowing a Desire Petroleum rig to be towed 8,000 miles from Scotland to begin drilling 60 miles north of the islands.

 

Argentina claims the Falklands - known as Las Malvinas in Buenos Aires - are occupied by Britain illegally and has formally objected to Desire's move to drill oil.

 

Argentina's president has reiterated the country's claim to sovereignty of the islands at a summit of 32 countries, hosted by Mexico.

 

In a rare show of unity, Latin American and Caribbean nations united to back Argentina.

 

Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez said the country would not try to keep the British boats or rigs out.

 

"We do not believe in methods like blockades," she said.

 

"When, in these last few days, England decided to install an oil rig offshore and Argentina - in exercise of its domestic law - made decisions as a Sovereign State, the Foreign Office floated the idea of a potential war threat by Argentina.

 

"I would say that is ridiculous, cynical because few countries have shown more signs of peaceful intentions than Argentina after the advent of democracy."

 

Desire said the well is being drilled to an estimated target depth of about 3,500 metres, and drilling operations are expected to take about 30 days.

 

The company said the rig is sitting "firmly inside UK waters".

 

Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982, before a UK taskforce made up of some 100 ships seized them back in a war which claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen and women and more than 600 Argentinians.

 

[andrewman~SPARTA~]

Argentina have also objected to the swap of Tornado F3 flight to Typhoon, additional guard-ship has already sailed south, would guess there is also a UK submarine lurking in the depths.

 

The Ministry of Defence says the level of British forces in and around the Falkland Islands is being "maintained" amid Argentinian efforts to control shipping in the region.

 

Falkland Islanders Are 'Protected' according to The Sun newspaper, a new naval task force comprising two ships and an oil supply tanker has been sent to the South Atlantic isles.

 

The report follows an Argentinian government decree that tightens control over shipping in the region ahead of British efforts to start oil and gas exploration off the islands' waters.

 

But the MoD said the UK's existing "deterrence" in the Falklands was not being increased and UK force levels were being maintained.

 

A spokesman said: "The Government is fully committed to the South Atlantic Overseas Territories which include the Falkland Islands.

 

"A deterrence force is maintained on the islands. That deterrence force comprises a wide range of land, air and maritime assets which collectively maintain our defence posture.

 

"We have a permanent presence in the South Atlantic including one frigate/destroyer, a patrol vessel, a survey ship and a replenishment vessel. We also have 1,076 service personnel on land."

 

Argentina's president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, issued a decree covering all ships that enter the country's waters, which Buenos Aires regards those as covering the entire South Atlantic continental shelf.

 

The Foreign Office shrugged off the demand, insisting that the seas around the Falklands were controlled by island authorities and would not be affected by the decree.

 

As the issue escalated, Sir Nicholas Winterton, chairman of the all-party Falklands group, said he would seek a meeting with senior officials at the Foreign Office when Parliament returned from recess next week.

 

He dismissed Ms Fernandez's decree as "pathetic and useless" as Argentina had no jurisdiction over the seas around the Falklands.

 

The Foreign Office said Britain was ready to co-operate with Argentina on South Atlantic issues and was working to develop relations between the two countries.

 

"Argentina and the UK are important partners," said the Foreign Office spokesman.

 

Despite being ejected from the islands which they know as the Malvinas after a two-month occupation and war in 1982, Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the Falklands.

 

The dispute over the territory has flared up recently because of interest in possible oil reserves.

 

Several British companies are poised to begin exploration using an offshore rig, while Desire Petroleum has licensed six areas where it predicts 3.5 billion barrels of oil and nine trillion cubic feet of natural gas can be recovered

 

[Watchman~SPARTA~]

Well, if they want to lose another war I'm sure they can be oblidged.

 

Interesting fact..... when Great Britain first established sovereignty over the Falkland Island territories, Argentina didn't exist as a nation. Almost all of South America was under Spanish rule and known as the Viceroyalty of The River Plate.

 

They're only interested now becasue their economy is shot to pieces.

[Ebden~SPARTA~]

Well, if they want to lose another war I'm sure they can be oblidged.

 

Interesting fact..... when Great Britain first established sovereignty over the Falkland Island territories, Argentina didn't exist as a nation. Almost all of South America was under Spanish rule and known as the Viceroyalty of The River Plate.

 

They're only interested now becasue their economy is shot to pieces.

 

Has anyone asked a Falkland Islander what THEY think?

[Zeno~SPARTA~]

Political discussions are not permitted here if this descends into an acrimonious debate it will disappear.

[Durka-Durka~SPARTA~]

Could be for real, Andrewman. Most leaders before a war always try to play it down and call it "ridiculous." Thanks for the info, I'll be keeping track of this one.

[custard~SPARTA~]

Has anyone asked a Falkland Islander what THEY think?

 

Yep, If they voted for it even with the mineral wealth possibly down there they would get complete autonomy but they haven't ever to my knowledge asked for it.

 

They have however asked for no oil/gas facility/infrastructure to be placed on the islands.

 

It won't come to a war because ever since the invasion in the 80s the defence package down there would make the price of invasion unaceptable.

[PANiC]

can't see there being a war tbh. isn't the brazillian president trying to get a seat on the un security council, so he's using this fight as a way in. seeems odd that it's all come to a front again as soon as oil is mentioned :/

 

[andrewman~SPARTA~]

I lived down there for three years, and the Falklands, both east and west are beautiful, - like living in a giant, but very cold, antartic zoo - the wildlife is spectacular, so I can understand that the islanders want to maintain everything off-shore except their income of course.

 

The islanders are self- sufficent in everything apart from defence - unlike other overseas terrtories - they have a good tourist market and sell illex fishing licences, a type of squid, to far eastern countries.

 

In self determination they very firmly wish to remain British.

 

Zeno - note your point - I nearly didn't post up as this could be construed as political.

[Durka-Durka~SPARTA~]

I lived down there for three years, and the Falklands, both east and west are beautiful, - like living in a giant, but very cold, antartic zoo - the wildlife is spectacular, so I can understand that the islanders want to maintain everything off-shore except their income of course.

 

The islanders are self- sufficent in everything apart from defence - unlike other overseas terrtories - they have a good tourist market and sell illex fishing licences, a type of squid, to far eastern countries.

 

In self determination they very firmly wish to remain British.

 

Zeno - note your point - I nearly didn't post up as this could be construed as political.

 

That's pretty interesting. From looking at photos of the island, and only photos along with a few videos, it's hard for me to imagine how the people sustain themselves. Is there a quite a bit of trade that goes on there? What are the houses made of, since there seems to be very little lumber. Just from my initial observations (sounds smart, eh?) I'm going to guess those people are a pretty hardy bunch.

[andrewman~SPARTA~]

Durka - it is tree free zone, the wind takes care of all but a handful of trees that have been stunted. Most houses are timber imports, the majority from scandinavian countries, built for warmth, and painted a bright colour

 

There is quite a bit of sheep farming in the rural areas, which is most of the country, I think they rival New Zealand for sheep:people ratio and a small farm is a hundred thousand acres - I guess this is american scale.

 

Majority of the population live in Stanley providing trading to other islanders and the tourists on their way to antartic on cruise liners - a very expensive cruise.

[Durka-Durka~SPARTA~]

Thats interesting. A cool place to visit. Is there a noticable difference between the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern? Meaning, can you tell you're so far south? Visiting up North in the summer, the biggest difference I could tell was the sun not going down until 11pm.

[andrewman~SPARTA~]

http://www.falklands.gov.fk//index.html

 

Provides some background reading

 

After an 18 hour flight I think you realise that you are somewhere very different to the UK. Being in the southern hemisphere makes no tangible difference day to day

 

What was very noticeable - with no industry or light pollution, the sky at night was the clearest I have seen anywhere in the world - I could sit and watch the stars, watch satelites move across the sky and we saw that comet that passed a couple of years ago without optics

 

Fond memories

[ChicagoCop]

Hmmm...A Falklands mod for ArmA shouldn't be too difficult, eh?