Argentina takes Falklands claim to UN
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez arrives at a special U.N. decolonisation committee.
She is there to argue that the Falklands Islands, or the Malvinas, are Argentine territory and should not fall under British rule.
The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of Britain's victory in a 10-week war over the islands that ended Argentina's brief occupation there.
Michael Summers, a member of the Falkland Islands' Legislative Assembly, took a strong stance against the move.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL SUMMERS, MEMBER OF THE FALKLANDS LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, SAYING:
"As much as Argentina might like to airbrush us out of existence to satisfy its unjustified lust for our lands, such behaviour belongs to another era and should not be tolerated in the modern world."
Britain says it will agree to talks only if the 3,000 islanders want them to do so, but there is little support among the locals to change their status.
Tensions have escalated in recent months, especially since British companies have started to carry out offshore oil exploration in the Falklands.
Fernandez's government has sought to disrupt this with legal threats and shipping curbs.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
She is there to argue that the Falklands Islands, or the Malvinas, are Argentine territory and should not fall under British rule.
The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of Britain's victory in a 10-week war over the islands that ended Argentina's brief occupation there.
Michael Summers, a member of the Falkland Islands' Legislative Assembly, took a strong stance against the move.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL SUMMERS, MEMBER OF THE FALKLANDS LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, SAYING:
"As much as Argentina might like to airbrush us out of existence to satisfy its unjustified lust for our lands, such behaviour belongs to another era and should not be tolerated in the modern world."
Britain says it will agree to talks only if the 3,000 islanders want them to do so, but there is little support among the locals to change their status.
Tensions have escalated in recent months, especially since British companies have started to carry out offshore oil exploration in the Falklands.
Fernandez's government has sought to disrupt this with legal threats and shipping curbs.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters