FALKLAND ISLANDS (see also Antarctica)
1.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR
40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No. 27.(1).......
Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falklands and their Dependencies (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). The British Government reject this claim and have stated consistently that they are in no doubt of their sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies. Argentina loses few opportunities at international fora to reassert and thereby seek to strengthen its claim to sovereignty.
2. In the event of an Argentine declaration challenging British sovereignty, the UK delegate should issue a declaration on the following lines (the exact wording should be cleared with South America Department, FCO (233 4077)):-
'With reference to the declaration by the Republic of Argentina, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have no doubt as to United Kingdom sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Islands Dependencies. The United Kingdom there- fore do not accept the declaration of the Argentine Republic claiming to contest United Kingdom sovereignty over the above mentioned territories'.
3.
Problems may also arise over nomenclature: eg in the United Nations Argentina has proposed successfully that the words 'Islas Malvinas' should appear on official documents printed in English where the words 'Falkland Islands' are mentioned. The UK represen- tative should resist any attempt to secure the adoption of the words 'Islas Malvinas' in place of the words 'Falkland Islnads' in an English text or any attempt to secure the addition of the words 'Islas Malvinas' after the name of the Falkland Islands. The nomenclature to be used in any discussion is the 'Falkland Islands'.
4. If the Argentines interpret UNGA Resolutions on the Falklands as condemning the 'illegality' of the British position there, the UK delegate should issue a counter-statement on the following lines (exact wording to be cleared with South America Department, FCO): -
(49)
/'The
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