UK to confront US over Malvinas Islands

UK to confront US over Malvinas Islands Sun, 24 Feb 2013 07:00:16 GMT.......... British Foreign Secretary William Hague will discuss the United States' stance on the Malvinas [Falkland] Islands with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, following reports that Washington will not recognize the result of next month's referendum on the sovereignty of the islands. Kerry will meet his British counterpart next week on his first British visit as secretary of state. According to Foreign Office sources, the islands which Britain illegally occupied in 1833, are among the issues to be discussed. Over the past years, Argentina has repeatedly brought the question of Malvinas to international forums and has insisted on its sovereignty over the region. “The US position has not changed. The US does not support Argentina's sovereignty claims. The US recognizes the UK's administration of the Falkland Islands, but takes no position on sovereignty,” said a US Department of State spokesperson. Moreover, last year, when the plebiscite was announced, a State Department official said: "We will not speculate on a referendum that has not taken place. Our position remains one of neutrality." A referendum will be held in the Malvinas next month for the islanders to decide whether they want to remain British or rather they want to rejoin Argentina as motherland. Relations between Argentina and Britain are now more fractious than any other time after the Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman snubbed talks with Hague because Falklanders were also invited. == http://edition.presstv.ir/TextOnly/detail.aspx?id=290522