Falkland Islands

What are the Falkland Islands?

The Falkland Islands, or 'Islas Malvinas', are an archipelago of small islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 300 miles east of the South American mainland (Argentina and Chile).

The Islands are widely considered an 'Overseas British Territory', and the constitutional status of the islands, with supreme authority vested in HM the Queen, reflects this status. The Islands are governed by a a Governor appointed by the Crown, aided by an elected executive and legislative council, in accordance with the Falkland Islands constitution.

Background

The islands have long been the subject of territorial dispute, first between the Spanish and English in the 1760s, and subsequently between the UK and Argentina, the UK having established a naval garrison on the island in 1833 to assert sovereignty over the Island from an interim Argentine administration.

Since this time the Islands have remained under UK administration with a largely English speaking population living on the Islands ever since.

Argentina, then led by the military government of General Leopoldo Galtieri, and in the midst of its worst economic crisis for decades, invaded the Falklands and declared possession in April 1982. Seven weeks later, a British Task Force landed and reclaimed the Islands by June. The UN deemed the invasion a 'breach of the peace' in UNSCR 502 (1982), granting the UK the right to fight in self-defence. NATO and the European Community also backed up the UK's claim.

Diplomatic relations between the UK and Argentina were not restored until 1990.

The Argentine government still claims rightful possession of the islands and charges the UK with illegal occupation, although President Carlos Menem renounced the use of force as a means of regaining the Islands in 1998.

Argentina claims that possession devolved upon the inheritance of Spanish title to the Islands following independence, through the principle of territorial contiguity, and through simple rights of settlement. The UK argues these claims have no foundation in international law or fact, and claims both that Britons were the first to settle on the Islands and that its current status is merely fulfilling the principle of self-determination of the islanders.

In November 2008, a new constitution was agreed by the British and Falkland Islands governments and approved by the Queen. The constitution came into force on 1st January 2009 and replaces a charter adopted in 1985. Argentina strongly condemned the move and announced that it would lodge a formal complaint with Britain.

Controversies

The 1982 Falklands War is widely interpreted as the British Empire's last hurrah. Critics of current defence policy say that it would be impossible today to conduct a unilateral campaign in the south Atlantic against any sort of opponent.

Notwithstanding the Falklands' position as a touchstone of British military pride, in 2001 the Public Records Office released a secret report produced by the Foreign Office that revealed the British government was once actively negotiating the return of sovereignty of the Islands to Argentina.

The plan, conducted during the 1960s, failed. The indigenous population, most of whom were quoted in the report as "violently anti-Argentinian", actively opposed the idea. The report, carried out by Lord Chalfont after a tour of the island, appeared to reveal a desire on the part of the then British government to release the Islands, whilst at the same time avoiding giving the impression of "abandonment to the islanders".

One of the most controversial incidents of the Falklands War was the sinking of the Argentine cruiser, the General Belgrano. 368 crewmen were killed, and the vessel was outside and indeed sailing away from the 200-mile exclusion zone. Large sections of the public and many MPs were outraged at the move, which took place while UN-sponsored peace talks were in progress.

In 2000, the European Court of Human Rights rejected an attempt by victims' families to sue the British Government for sinking the Belgrano illegally.

Statistics

There are over 250 species of plant in the Falkland Islands, of which 164 are recorded as native including the Islands' national flower, the Pale Maiden, and 13 endemic to the Islands.
There are over 60 different breeding species of birds in the Islands.
There are five different species of breeding Penguin in the Falkland Islands (Rockhopper, Magellanic, Gentoo, King and Macaroni).
The Islands are the most important world site for the endangered Rockhopper Penguin.
The Islands are also home to 80% of the world's breeding population of Black-Browed Albatross.
The Elephant Seal, Sea Lion and Fur Seal all breed on the Islands.
The largest Elephant Seal breeding site is found on Sea Lion Island, where there are over 500 individuals.

Source: Falkland Islands Government website - 2011

Falkland Islands facts:

Status: British Overseas Territory
Area: 12,173 sq km (4,700 sq miles)
Population: 2,955 (2006 Census)
Capital City: Stanley
Languages: English
Religion(s): Christian, with Catholic, Anglican and United Reformed Churches in Stanley. Other faiths are also represented.
Currency: Falkland Island Pound (at par with sterling)
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II
Governor: His Excellency Alan Huckle
Since 1998, the Islanders have been financially self sufficient in all areas except defence.
62,488 cruise ship passengers were cleared to land in the Falklands between October 2008 and April 2009.
The Falkland Islands have their own postcode, FIQQ 1ZZ, and commission their own postage stamps, coins and banknotes.

Source: Foreign Office - June 2010

Quotes

"The Falkland Islands Government hopes for peaceful co-existence between Argentina and the Falkland Islands, without diluting or adapting the position on sovereignty. For as long as there is a perceived threat from Argentina, a military presence on the Islands will be maintained on a scale sufficient to deter aggression and provide a holding capability pending reinforcement.

"With the continued support of the UK, the Falkland Islands can look forward to an even brighter future."

Falkland Islands Government - 2011