The war in Ukraine is at the forefront of our minds in the Falkland Islands community, not least as it brings back strong memories of 40 years ago, when our peaceful home was also invaded by a hostile neighbor, intent on seizing land and assuming sovereignty, without concern for the safety, security or rights of the people living here.
By Dov S. Zakheim (*)This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, on April 2, 1982.
Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Falkland Islands was £112 million in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2021, a decrease of 9.7% or £12 million from the four quarters to the end of Q2 2020. Figures are from the UK ONS, Office for National Statistics.
Falkland Islands Association - Britain did not expel an Argentine population in January 1833 when Britain re-asserted its sovereignty in the Falklands. But no piece of Argentine propaganda has been more successful than its falsehood that Britain expelled an “Argentine population”.
In 2022, the Falkland Islands will be marking the 40th anniversary of liberation with a year-long program of commemoration and celebration.
Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five BAS research stations will be open and undertaking essential science research after a year’s break caused by Covid-19 last season. This will be another challenging season with ongoing Covid-19 protocols to maintain safety for our staff and collaborators.
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) confirmed on Friday that in effect it has held conversations with the UK government about the possibility of putting on a charter flight for South American members of our community to visit family and friends during the festive season.
The Falkland Islands Government remembers Human Rights Day with the following statement, ”Today, Friday 10 December, is the United Nations Human Rights Day, which was established in 1950 to draw the attention of ‘the peoples of the world’ to the inalienable rights of individuals as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
At the conclusion of a two-day meeting at the Foreign Office, the Joint Ministerial Council, JMC, which brings together UK ministers and Overseas Territories leaders agreed on a joint communiqué which included the agenda of issues addressed. Previous to the JMC the Overseas Territories Association held a meeting of their Political Council.
The highlight of this year's Joint Ministerial Council, JMC, meeting between British Overseas Territories leaders and UK cabinet ministers was a speech by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, referred to climate change and the role BOTs play “on the front line”.