Argentina has renewed its claim over the Falkland Islands on the 25th anniversary of invading them - and losing a subsequent war with Britain.
"The Malvinas are Argentine, they always were, they always will be," said Argentine Vice-President Daniel Scioli, using the Spanish name for the islands.
Mr Scioli was speaking in the southern city of Ushuaia - one of a series of events marking the start of the war.
He urged the UK to resume talks on the sovereignty of the islands.
In the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates to honour their "courage and professionalism".
More than 900 people died in the 74-day war, including 255 British servicemen, 655 Argentines and three islanders.
A UK military task force sailed for the Falklands in April 1982, and troops began a campaign to regain the islands by the end of the month.
Several major land and sea battles followed before the British eventually broke Argentine resistance, recapturing control of Stanley, the islands' capital, on 14 June.
Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands, which it has done since 1833.
President Nestor Kirchner did not attend the main ceremony in Ushuaia, where one resident climbed on a mound of dirt and planted his own Argentine flag, with a drawing of the islands and the words: "We will return."
Addressing the veterans there, the Argentine vice-president said Argentina would never again resort to force.
"Once again, we urge the United Kingdom to heed international calls and resume negotiations in the appropriate manner, through the United Nations," Mr Scioli told the crowd.
"Too much blood was spilled and that should never be repeated," said the head of the armed forces, Jorge Chevalier.
Most in Argentina now regard the invasion, ordered by the country's ruling military dictatorship, as a mistake, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires.
In London, former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who sent troops to recapture the islands, attended a private memorial ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral.
The build-up to the anniversary has been marked by tensions between Argentina and the UK.
Last week Argentina unilaterally scrapped an oil and gas exploration treaty with the UK
Last edited by Edward Teach on 04-05-2007 at 12:15 AM | Reason For Edit: Fixed Typo
Just to answer this story, taken from BBC.CO.UK, surely it comes down to whether or not the residence in the Falkland Islands want to be citisens of the UK or citisens of Argentina.
If they dont want you there then you wont be there. They are obviously happy being British citisens or they would hae tried to leave already. Similarly if they wanted to rejoin Argentina they would have tried to do so already.
"there's only one way to win a war: shout, shout, and shout again!" - The Duke of Wellington ((Blackadder - Stephen Fry))
White Tiger said this in post #2 : They are obviously happy being British citisens or they would hae tried to leave already.
Happy being British just so long as they can live about as far away from the place as possible.
France, Britain, Spain, and Argentina have all claimed the Island at one time or another. Can't see what's so special about the place myself. Apart from sheep, what's there?
And Argentina was originally colonised by the Spanish, so I don't see how they think they have any more right to the place than anyone else.
H@ts does not matter where they are if they are happy with the way things are then it's stays that way. Hell look at the Faroe Islands they are closer to the UK than Denmark but the people are happy being Danish so let them be.
As for the Falklands it does having been there when I was in the marines it's basically some rocks that stick out of the sea I spen my free time helping the WGC because there was nowt else to do really.
This has gone on for to long and the fact is the argnetianins don't really seem to care for example last week a memorial service was held in the Falklands and for the first time the Argentinians were invited to come not one showed up you would have though somebody would have made an apperance if it all mattred so much. It's the same with Gibralter until the people there don't want to be British we cant force any other nationality upon them.
lodgebo said this in post #4 : This has gone on for to long and the fact is the argnetianins don't really seem to care for example last week a memorial service was held in the Falklands and for the first time the Argentinians were invited to come not one showed up you would have though somebody would have made an apperance if it all mattred so much. It's the same with Gibraltar until the people there don't want to be British we cant force any other nationality upon them.
I'm sure Argentina's interest in the Island comes and goes, depending on the popularity or unpopularity of whatever government is in power, and the matter will probably never really vanish. The Spanish occasionally grumble about Gibraltar too. As far as I know the present Argentinian government just announced they would never have another war over the Falklands?
No surprise Argentina didn't send anyone to a memorial in the Falklands. Losing wars isn't something governments on the whole like to commemorate.
04-03-2007 12:54 AM
