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Argentina blasts Britain over plans for Falkands military exercise

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Argentina on Friday blasted plans by Britain to hold military exercises in the Falkland Islands, the rocky archipelago claimed by both countries.

Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said in a statement that the maneuvers, set for April 14 to 27, are a new "act of aggression" against Argentina, which in 1982 lost a brief but bloody war with Britain for control of the islands, known as the Malvinas in Spanish.

Tensions have resurfaced between the two countries in recent years after Britain opened the area to oil exploration.

The Falklands have been ruled by Britain since 1833 and the vast majority of the population of just under 3,000 people are of British heritage.

In a March 2013 referendum on the Falkland Islands, 99.8% of the islanders voted to remain a British overseas territory.

Argentine forces invaded the islands -- which here are called the Malvinas -- on April 2, 1982.

They were forced to surrender a little more than two months later, after a war that killed 649 Argentines, 255 Britons, and three islanders.

© (c) 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

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Rulled by Britts for over 180 years, 99.8% vote to remain so, developed and maintained by the UK. I say it is a far reaching UK colony.

What claim does Argentina have on the Falklands?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Every government needs an international spat to take the citizen's attention from their domestic failings and thievery it seems. It does not seem to matter how ridiculous the spat is or how unfounded the position of the government.

Of course, if there is an oil spill near the Falklands, Argentina will suffer greatly. That much is true. But the world might have been more willing to listen if the Argentinians did not try to steal a chunk of their neighbor's backyard just because its closer to their house.

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Its perfect for both countries. For Cameron it helps give the impression that the reduced sized armed services are still up to snuff and for Fernandez de kirchner it takes the voters minds off the tanking economy plus it allows them both to claim that they have the creeping penguin menace under control.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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