New York (dpa) - Representatives of the Falkland Islands expressed disappointment Thursday after a UN resolution called for talks between Britain and Argentina to settle the dispute over the islands instead of accepting the recent referendum by the islanders. <\/p>\n
Elected representatives from the Falkland Islands appealed to the UN special committee on decolonization to acknowledge their decision to remain an overseas territory of Britain. That decision, which came in a referendum in March, was disregarded by Argentina, which claims the islands belong to its territory. <\/p>\n
Sharon Halford, a member of the Falklands legislative assembly, said the referendum passed with the approval of 99.8 per cent of the voters - only three residents wanted an alternative political status for the islands. <\/p>\n
\"We, the people of the Falklands, are happy with our current relationship with the UK,\" Halford told the UN committee. \"It is not an anachronistic colonial situation as characterised by Argentina, but a modern relationship where the UK listens to our wishes and we are responsible for our own internal self-government.\" <\/p>\n
Halford said the referendum was based on a 1970 UN resolution offering people from non-self governing territories the right to self determination, including having any political status they decide. <\/p>\n
However, the UN resolution passed Thursday calls for a \"peaceful and negotiated settlement\" between Argentina and Britain and disregards the Falklands claim to self governance. <\/p>\n
Mark Lyall Grant, Britains ambassador to the UN, said the committee failed to recognize the wishes of the people. <\/p>\n
\"The committees approach is outdated and disconnected from the people its supposed to be helping,\" Grant said. <\/p>\n
Argentinas Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, who also addressed the committee, was pleased with the outcome of the resolution. <\/p>\n
\"The United Nations found (its) a conflict of national integrity,\" Timerman said. \"A conflict between two countries: the United Kingdom and Argentina.\" <\/p>\n
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UN resolution calling for talks disappoints Falkland Islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New York (dpa) - Representatives of the Falkland Islands expressed disappointment Thursday after a UN resolution called for talks between Britain and Argentina to settle the dispute over the islands instead of accepting the recent referendum by the islanders. Elected representatives from the Falkland Islands appealed to the UN special committee on decolonization to acknowledge their decision to remain an overseas territory of Britain. That decision, which came in a referendum in March, was disregarded by Argentina, which claims the islands belong to its territory Continue reading