Argentina Threatens Legal Action In Falkland Faceoff Over Oil
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Argentina has vowed to take legal action against any company that wishes to conduct oil exploratory activities off the disputed Falkland Islands, claimed a report by Reuters on Thursday, as tensions continue to build between the South American country and the UK over the region’s sovereignty.
Argentina has vowed to take legal action against any company that wishes to conduct oil exploratory activities off the disputed Falkland Islands, claimed a report by Reuters on Thursday, as tensions continue to build between the South American country and the UK over the region’s sovereignty.
According to Argentina’s Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, any exploratory and drilling activities off the Falkland shore should be deemed as illegal by international law – particularly as control over the region remains unresolved following the Falklands conflict nearly 30 years ago.
The UK is violating both international and Argentine law by giving permission to British companies for drilling in the Falklands, added Timerman, citing UN resolutions that prohibited unilateral action by any party as long as the dispute persisted.
“We are going to defend the resources of the South Atlantic, which are the property of all the Argentines,” noted Timerman during a press conference attended by the Associate Press.
[quote]”We won’t let one day pass in the courts without defending our resources,” he added.[/quote]
The Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas in Argentina) is considered by Argentineans as part of their lost province, despite nearly 180 years of British control. Nearly every politician elected as President in Argentina thus far has added “reclaiming the Falklands” as a top priority of their election campaign, with the Argentine government constantly challenging the UK’s claim to the region.
This April 2nd will mark the 30th anniversary of when the Argentinean military, then under the dictatorship of General Leopolodo Galtieri, tried to reoccupy the Falkland Islands in a brief and bloody war against the UK. Though military retaliation has since receded, diplomatic tensions remain high between the governments of both nations over the islands.
[quote]”From harassing Falklands shipping to threatening the islanders’ air links with Chile, Argentina’s efforts to intimidate the Falklands are illegal, unbecoming and wholly counter-productive,” said a spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office on Thursday.[/quote]“We are studying Argentina’s remarks carefully and will work closely with any company potentially affected to ensure that the practical implications for them are as few as possible,” she added.
Several UK oil companies have already started drilling in waters off the islands. British explorer Rockhopper has been seeking a partner to invest in the $2 billion Sea Lion project, while Borders & Southern and Falkland Oil & Gas are set to drill wells south of the islands this year.
Still, Argentina’s threat prompted Australia-based energy company BHP Billington to abandon a multimillion-dollar exploration efforts several years ago, and the UK has vowed continue supporting all exploratory activities near the island.
“Hydrocarbon exploration in the Falklands is a legitimate commercial venture,” said the UK Foreign Office. “The British government supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their own natural resources for their own economic benefit. This right is an integral part of their right of self-determination.”
Related: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Economic Statistics and Indicators
“These latest attempts to damage the economic livelihoods of the Falkland Islands people regrettably reflect a pattern of behaviour by the Argentine government.”
“We remain clear that domestic Argentine legislation does not apply to the Falkland Islands or South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Falkland Islands Government is, as always, entitled to develop both fisheries and hydrocarbons industries within its own waters, without interference from Argentina.”
