UN panel requests Argentina, UK to resume talks on Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Seeking to end what it called the "special and particular colonial situation" in the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), the United Nations special panel dealing with decolonization requested the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the long-standing sovereignty dispute.

Adopting a consensus resolution without a vote, the UN Special Committee on decolonization noted the views expressed last year by Argentina's President in his address to the General Assembly, in which he urged the United Kingdom to resume negotiations. The Committee regretted that, in spite of widespread international support for negotiations, the implementation of relevant Assembly resolutions has not yet started.

But Falkland Islands Councillors John Birmingham and Stephen Luxton underlined that there was no "sovereignty" issue to discuss with Argentina – what they called a "bullying" administration out of touch with the 21st century – and urged the Committee to concentrate in allowing the Islanders to choose their own future and exercise their right to self-determination.

Indeed, Argentina's total disregard for the view of the people of the Falklands "directly challenged" the purpose of the Committee, which was to eradicate such situations where nations sought to impose colonial rule, they said. "The Argentine Government is confusing territorial integrity with geographical proximity, added Mr. Luxton, "we have nothing in common with Argentina culturally, linguistically, historically or politically."

"The fact that Argentines are taught from a young age that the Falkland Islands have been illegally occupied by British settlers for 170 years does not make it true," said Mr. Luxton, stressing that the Islands' people were not maintaining a colonial situation, because their country was not a colony – it was an internally self-governing and largely self-sufficient British overseas territory.

Rafael Bielsa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, said the special nature of the Malvinas Islands question derived from the fact that the United Kingdom had occupied the Islands by force in 1833, ousted the Argentine population and authorities on the Islands and replaced them with settlers of British origin. Then, as now, Argentina had not consented to the acts of force that gave rise to the Malvinas question.

The international community had repeatedly urged the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations on sovereignty without delay. While his Government had repeated its willingness to negotiate, the United Kingdom had persisted in its negative attitude of rejection. The United Kingdom's refusal to resume bilateral negotiations on sovereignty delayed and hindered the decolonization process to which the Committee was devoted.

The Special Committee on decolonization, a 24-member panel that discusses the developments in the 16 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and hears statements from appointed and elected representatives of the Territories and petitioners, continues its annual session at UN Headquarters in New York through the end of the month.

In other action, the Committee today invited the parties involved in the status question of New Caledonia to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of that Territory towards an act of self-determination, in which all options were open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians, especially the indigenous Kanak people.

By another draft submitted by Fiji and Papua New Guinea, the Special Committee, noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued by the French authorities, urged all the parties involved to maintain, in the framework of the Noumea Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony.

(The Noumea Accord was signed on 5 May 1998 by representatives of the Government of France, the Rassemblement pour la Calédonie dans la République (RPCR) and the Front de libération nationale Kanak et socialiste (FLNKS). It puts forth the signatories' decision to work together towards a negotiated consensual solution, which they would submit to the inhabitants of New Caledonia for a decision. This solution will define the Territory's political organization and the arrangements for its emancipation over the next 20 years.)

In a related provision of the resolution, the Special Committee acknowledged the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those close links, including the development of closer relations with the countries of the Pacific Islands Forum.

In that regard, the Special Committee welcomed New Caledonia's accession to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to Forum member States.

The Special Committee on decolonization, a 24-member panel that discusses the developments in the 16 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and hears statements from appointed and elected representatives of the Territories and petitioners, continues its annual session at UN Headquarters in New York through the end of the month.