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 as 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, agreed in 1987.


Background

The islands have a 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.


Controversies

The 1982 Falklands War is widely interpreted as the British Empire's last hurrah. Critics of current defence policy says 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 Foriegn 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

The Islands have a population of 2,379

The Falklands have a GDP of £45 million (estimated 2001), representing GDP per head of £14,780 (2001)

Britain maintains a garrison of 2,000 troops on the island at an annual cost of £70 million

Statistics 1 and 2: (Source: Foreign Office); Statistic 3: (Source: Guardian newspaper, 'Share the Falklands', April 2002)


Quotes

"The General Belgrano was a threat to our men and therefore it is quite correct that she was attacked by our submarines."

John Nott, Defence Secretary, May 2 1982

"Falkland Islanders are keen to develop relations with their neighbours because they know that the Falklands are British for as long as they wish to remain so. Of course, the Argentines have made their position to us equally clear. But if we can make progress on practical issues where everyone stands to gain, then it is our duty to put such differences to one side."

Denis MacShane, 'The UK, Argentina and the South Atlantic', May 2002

"The United Kingdom's relations with Argentina are good and we continue to work to improve them. I therefore hope that practical cooperation and mutual understanding between the Falklands and Argentina can be further developed where this is in the interests of the Islands and in accordance with the wishes of the people."

Tony Blair, Prime Minister, New Year address to the Falkland Islands, December 2002