Argentina’s ambassador to Britain Alicia Castro assured that the referendum on the fate of the Malvinas Islands is a publicity stunt with no legal status, and added that is a «strategy to avoid dialogue.»
The official highlighted that the referendum that will take part on March 10-11 to find if they want to remain British «has no legal grounds. It’s not approved, nor will it be recognised by the United Nations or the international community.»
Castro affirmed that «the colonial government calls for a referendum» as a «strategy to avoid dialogue and not fulfil the international right that urges a pacific resolution over the dispute.»
«So this referendum is little more than a public relations exercise,» she said.
Britain says the islanders have a right to self-determination, and insists they be present at any talks with Argentina over the future of the islands, but Buenos Aires says the matter should only be discussed by two sovereign states.
«The Argentine Government has already dismissed the referendum before it has even taken place, a position that runs counter to the universal principles of democracy and self-determination,» a British Foreign Office spokesman said.
Castro said Latin American countries backed Argentina, and warned that oil exploration around the Falklands would be unfeasible without proper links to the South American continent.
buenosairesherald.com