• Argentina outraged at Cameron's "offensive comments"
    15 replies, posted
[B]Argentine leaders have reacted with fury after UK Prime Minister David Cameron accused Argentina of "colonialism" for continuing to claim sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. [/B]"[B]It's totally offensive, especially coming from Great Britain,[/B]" Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo said. The Argentine government has[B] demanded renewed talks about the islands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas[/B].Mr Cameron said they would stay British for as long as the islanders wanted. [B]Argentina's demands for that to change were "like colonialism", Mr Cameron told parliament on Wednesday. [/B] In response, [B]Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said Great Britain was a country "synonymous with colonialism"[/B]. "Obviously at a time when there are only remnants of colonialism, [B]Great Britain in imperial decline, decides to rewrite history,[/B]" he was quoted as saying by the official Telam news agency. The sharp exchange of words comes ahead of the [B]30th anniversary of the Falklands War[/B], which was prompted by an Argentine invasion of the islands.[B] Most Falkland Islanders wish to retain British sovereignty[/B] and 14 June is marked as Liberation Day in the capital, Port Stanley. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the "absolutely vital point" was that "the future of the Falkland Islands is a matter for the people themselves". "[B]As long as they want to remain part of the United Kingdom and be British, they should be able to do so,[/B]" he said. "What the Argentinians have been saying recently, I would argue, is [B]actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentinians want them to do something else.[/B]" Mr Cameron said he wanted to "[B]make sure our defences and everything else are in order[/B]", which is why a National Security Council meeting had been held on Tuesday to discuss the issue. President Fernandez has repeatedly requested talks on the islands' future and [B]accused the UK of "arrogance" for refusing to negotiate[/B].[B] She has accused Britain of "taking Argentine resources" from the islands and the waters around them. [/B]Tensions have risen in recent years over oil exploration around the Falklands. In December, the Mercosur grouping of countries, which includes Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay,[B] announced that it would ban ships sailing under the Falkland Islands flag from docking at their ports[/B]. The islands were discussed on Wednesday during a visit by UK Foreign Minister William Hague to Brazil. Mr Hague said [B]differences over the Falklands did not stop the UK having a "vastly productive relationship and growing friendship" with Brazil. [/B][URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16625963[/URL]
[quote]President Fernandez has repeatedly requested talks on the islands' future and accused the UK of "arrogance" for refusing to negotiate. She has accused Britain of "taking Argentine resources" from the islands and the waters around them.[/quote] Riiight, from an Island that they have no claim to, that isn't even inside their territorial waters, and where the people who've called the islands their home for generations have no interest in being ruled by Argentina and see themselves as a distinct OT of the UK, rather than part of the UK. She's the one who's been sabre-rattling for the past year against the FI, now she's just throwing a bitchfit because the UK called her out on it. (Only thing I agree with Cameron having done so far) I really wish Argentina would piss right off and leave the Kelpers alone.
Anyone noticed how we don't get offended if anyone says something about Britain?
It's funny how the Argentines claim sovereignty over the islands, when they've been under British rule since before Argentina even existed as a nation
[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;34290524]Anyone noticed how we don't get offended if anyone says something about Britain?[/QUOTE] That's because we all know Britain is as shit as the rest of the world.
The United Kingdom is in no position to be criticizing other nations for colonialism.
The Falkland islands belong to the Kelpers, who are of British, Spanish and South American origins. The UK will guarantee their sovereignty as much as possible against a country which has already said it simple wants to remove these people if they ever gain control of the islands.
[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;34290524]Anyone noticed how we don't get offended if anyone says something about Britain?[/QUOTE] How can you not agree with Britain over this. Plus, last time someone posted a topic on this, I'm pretty sure we had people from Argentine and wherever bad talking the British. I'm with Britain over this. As long as the public of the Falklands chooses to be under British rule, Argentine and its buddies can deal with it.
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;34290537]The United Kingdom is in no position to be criticizing other nations for colonialism.[/QUOTE] While that's true, Cameron has a point in this as craigewan and bad)-(and pointed out. All Argentina's doing is trying to lay claim on something they have no claim on whatsoever and bitching when getting called out on it.
[QUOTE=Bad)-(and;34290532]It's funny how the Argentines claim sovereignty over the islands, when they've been under British rule since before Argentina even existed as a nation[/QUOTE] Well the first power in charge of it was France, which then changed hands to the UK, then to Spain, then back to Britain, then to Argentina, then to the US, then back to Argentina, then back to the UK for a final time.
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;34290571]Well the first power in charge of it was France, which then changed hands to the UK, then to Spain, then back to Britain, then to Argentina, then to the US, then back to Argentina, then back to the UK for a final time.[/QUOTE] I think it was more along the lines of France had it first Then the UK arrived not knowing the French were already there, and took each island for themselves (East and West Falklands) The French then "gave" their part of the island to the Spanish The Spanish empire and British empire nearly went to war, but signed a peace treaty The Spanish left (I cant remember why) and then British also left due to the American Revolution, both had Plaques to say it was theirs. After that it was a whole entire mix of countries claiming the islands were theirs including the United Provinces, which later became part of Argentina Eventually the Brits managed to have it more or less entirely to itself, the only time Argentina has really had the islands for is when we had the war with them
They're only colonialists when they try to take the UK's colonies. But nope, of course Britain isn't colonialist for still having colonies. No sir.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;34290799]They're only colonialists when they try to take the UK's colonies. But nope, of course Britain isn't colonialist for still having colonies. No sir.[/QUOTE] Except there were no natives that got run roughshod in the Falklands, the people there all want to be part of the UK/Commonwealth, and have no interest in being part of Argentina or leaving their homes. We don't have any colonies any more that did not wish to remain part of our territories. Argentina is trying to take one against the will of the people who live there - So he is perfectly justified in calling them Colonial for doing so. Last I checked, we're not doing that any more. TL;DR - Grow up
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;34290799]They're only colonialists when they try to take the UK's colonies. But nope, of course Britain isn't colonialist for still having colonies. No sir.[/QUOTE] At no point in the article does it actually say that we aren't a colonialist.. but the point of the matter is that they are trying to take a island, which just HAPPENS to be owned by Britain without any real basis of "why" other than "It's ours give it to us". Britain may of had an 'ugly' history with its colonies, but it doesn't mean some other country is allowed to just walk in and take an island for themselves, we may have done it several hundred years ago.. but we're in the 21st Century, if Britian even TRIED to do something like this we would have half the world probably pointing missiles towards us just because of our history. Argentina is seeing the Falklands purely as a money maker and a political strategy.. rather than actually caring for the people who live on the island. Most of those people want to stay a British territory, therefore they should be allowed to. If push comes to shove they could just become independent.. then neither of the countries can touch it!
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;34290799]They're only colonialists when they try to take the UK's colonies. But nope, of course Britain isn't colonialist for still having colonies. No sir.[/QUOTE] We let most our colonies go after the first world war, the ones we still have are ones that chose to stay as part of Britain, so no we aren't colonialist any more.
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;34290537]The United Kingdom is in no position to be criticizing other nations for colonialism.[/QUOTE] There's a difference between what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present. It's a bit like me saying It's ok for me to rob you because your great-grandfather robbed me. Besides, the UK has willingly given independence to almost all its territories. It can hardly be called 'colonialist' any more.
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