London (dpa) - The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic will hold a referendum next year about their \"political status\" in the hope of bringing to an end a dispute between Britain and Argentina over the islands sovereignty, the islands government said Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Reacting to the announcement in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron said his government would \"respect and defend\" the outcome of the referendum, to be held in the first half of 2013. <\/p>\n
\"The voice of the Falkland Islands people should be heard. I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say,\" said Britains Foreign Secretary, William Hague. <\/p>\n
His envoy, Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne, who is currently visiting the islands, said it was a \"truly significant moment.\" <\/p>\n
The announcement came amid tension between Britain and Argentina over the disputed islands, over which the two nations went to war in 1982. <\/p>\n
Referring to the anniversary, Cameron said Tuesday: \"Thirty years ago, they made clear that they wanted to stay British. Thats why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders.\" <\/p>\n
The bloody conflict over the islands, with a population of just 3,000 people, claimed the lives of 655 Argentinian soldiers and 255 British servicemen. The 30th anniversary of the end of the conflict is marked on June 14. <\/p>\n
Next years referendum would determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands, said Cameron. \"We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the islanders decision about how they want to live.\" <\/p>\n
The Falkland Islands government said Tuesday that it hoped the referendum would send a firm message to Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that the islanders wanted to remain British. <\/p>\n
\"We are holding this referendum, not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how certain we are about it,\" said Gavin Short, chairman of the Legislative Assembly in the Falkland Islands capital, Port Stanley. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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LEAD: Falkland Islands referendum over "political status" announced<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" London (dpa) - The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic will hold a referendum next year about their \"political status\" in the hope of bringing to an end a dispute between Britain and Argentina over the islands sovereignty, the islands government said Tuesday. Continue reading