Argentina goes to UN over Falklands (From Northwich Guardian)

Argentina goes to UN over Falklands

2:52am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez said she will formally complain to the UN Security Council about Britain sending one of its most modern warships to the Falkland Islands.

Ms Fernandez accused Prime Minister David Cameron of militarising their long dispute over the islands in the South Atlantic.

Argentina calls the islands the Malvinas and is demanding that Britain cedes control. Britain seized the Falklands in 1833. Argentinian troops invaded the Falklands in 1982, but were defeated by a counter-invasion by British forces.

Argentina is continuing to demand that Britain gives up control of the disputed archipelago with tensions between the two countries growing in recent weeks.

Speaking to an audience including Falkland war veterans and other politicians at Argentina's presidential residence last night, Ms Kirchner said: "I have instructed our chancellor to present formally to the Security Council of the United Nations and before the General Assembly of the United Nations this militarisation of the South Atlantic which implies a great risk for international security."

Tensions between London and Buenos Aires have been rising in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the war for the islands. Last week Prince William began a six-week posting in the region in his role as an RAF search and rescue pilot.

It came after the Government confirmed it was sending one of its newest destroyers, HMS Dauntless, to the South Atlantic, off the Falklands. The Type 45 destroyer is due to set sail for the region on her maiden mission in the coming months to replace frigate HMS Montrose.

In her speech, Ms Kirchner said it was difficult to see how "the sending of an immense and modern destroyer accompanied by the Royal heir who we would have liked to see in civilian clothes and not in military uniform" was not a show of purposeful military strength by the UK. She said Argentina would be opposing "this militarisation of the South Atlantic" because it was a region where "peace reigns".

Towards the end of her speech she made a direct plea to Prime Minister David Cameron, saying: "I want to simply ask the English (sic) Prime Minister that he gives peace a chance, that some time he gives peace a chance."

William Hague has said the deployments of HMS Dauntless and Prince William are "entirely routine" and that commemorations would go ahead to mark the 30-year anniversary of the conflict. He also accused Argentina of attempting to "raise the diplomatic temperature" on the Falklands issue.