UK: Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman claims Falklands will be under his country's control within two decades; also vows to prosecute Falklands oil firms

Record ID: 447256

  • Title: UK: Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman claims Falklands will be under his country's control within two decades; also vows to prosecute Falklands oil firms
  • Date: 6th February 2013
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FEBRUARY 6, 2013) (REUTERS) (AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING) PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER HECTOR TIMERMAN PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR TIMERMAN, ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "Personally deep down I am convinced that if the UK starts to accept UN resolutions, then this will take place and maybe in even less than 20 years, but this is as long as the UK doesn't accept only those resolutions that are for its own benefit, but accepts all of the resolutions." PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR TIMERMAN, ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "And finally I would like to say that the British inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands are heard through their government and the Argentine people are heard through their government and their foreign minister." REPORTER TAKING NOTES IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR TIMERMAN, ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "By setting a condition and giving an ultimatum that made me have to reject the possibility for this meeting and with this attitude of course we won't be able to meet and discuss all of the matters that have to do with our bilateral relations." PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR TIMERMAN, ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "But of course we will continue the legal actions against the oil companies who are doing hydrocarbon related exploration activities in the south Atlantic because they are stealing part of the natural resources of the Argentina." PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS TIMERMAN STANDS AND WAVES AT END OF PRESS CONFERENCE EXTERIOR OF ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE VARIOUS OF ARGENTINE FLAG OUTSIDE BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HECTOR TIMERMAN, ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "Of course they have human rights, of course, but they're not part of a negotiation between sovereign states, they're not recognised as a party in conflict, it has nothing to do with human rights." REPORTER ASKS: Are you missing an opportunity to negotiate with the UK? "No, I think the United Kingdom is demonstrating to the whole world that it will not comply with UN resolutions." TIMERMAN GETTING INTO CAR
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE19PA6438YRPDA7BZ9W3BAMX9
  • Story Text: Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman in an interview in a British newspaper said his country would be ruling the Falklands within 20 years.
    At a news conference in London on Wednesday (February 6) he repeated that claim when asked if he believed that to be realistic by a British journalist.
    "Personally deep down I am convinced that if the UK starts to accept UN resolutions, then this will take place and maybe in even less than 20 years, but this is as long as the UK doesn't accept only those resolutions that are for its own benefit, but accepts all of the resolutions," he said.
    Earlier this week Timerman pulled out of a meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague after the Foreign Office insisted that a representative of the Falklands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas, also attended.
    Timerman said a representative of the Falklands had no right to attend.
    "I would like to say that the British inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands are heard through their government and the Argentine people are heard through their government and their foreign minister," he said.
    "By setting a condition and giving an ultimatum that made me have to reject the possibility for this meeting and with this attitude of course we won't be able to meet and discuss all of the matters that have to do with our bilateral relations," he added.
    Argentina claims that Falklanders are British settlers on Argentinian soil and have no right to self-determination.
    "Of course they have human rights, of course, but they're not part of a negotiation between sovereign states, they're not recognised as a party in conflict, it has nothing to do with human rights," he said to reporters after the press conference.
    Next month a referendum is being held in the Falklands on whether the people still want to remain under British sovereignty.
    Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war in 1982 over the Falklands, part of Britain's self-governing territories, some 300 miles off Argentina's coast.
    Timerman said Argentina will continue legal action against energy firms working off the disputed, British-controlled islands.
    "We will continue to seek legal action against (these) hydrocarbon companies ... they are stealing the natural resources of Argentina," he told reporters.
    Buenos Aires has ramped up efforts to stake its claim to the territory as London-listed firms seek to tap oil and gas deposits offshore the islands.
    Last March, Argentina said it would take legal action against any companies involved in oil exploration off the islands.
    Argentina has attempted to make life difficult for British oil explorers, but its hostility has not deterred companies and the islands are set to start producing their first oil in 2017.
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