Argentina pushes for Falklands as dead mourned

As a single candle was lit during a service to remember the 255 UK serviceman killed in retaking the remote South Atlantic islands, the diplomatic battle showed no signs of abating.

Despite David Cameron’s insistence that the islanders must be allowed to choose their nationality, his counterpart in Buenos Aires renewed her push to take over the islands. Leading her country’s commemorations of the conflict – which cost the lives of 649 Argentines – president Christina Fernandez de Kirchner said Britain’s stance was “ridiculous and absurd”.

She called for talks on ending the “unjust” situation – something London has ruled out for as long as no change is demanded by the islanders themselves.

Mr Cameron – who like Ms Kirchner included the enemy dead in his anniversary message – insisted Britain was no less committed now than in 1982 to protect the right to self-determination.

“Britain remains staunchly committed to upholding the right of the Falkland Islanders, and of the Falkland Islanders alone, to determine their own future,” he said yesterday. “That was the fundamental principle that was at stake 30 years ago: and that is the principle which we solemnly re-affirm today.”

It was, he said, “a day to remember all those who lost their lives” on both sides as well as to “salute the heroism of the Task Force” sent to correct a “profound wrong”.

His words were echoed by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond – who also dismissed warnings from former military chiefs that the UK would be unable to defend the islands from a new invasion.

“We will defend them robustly, we have the assets, the people, the equipment in place to do so,” he said in response to comments by the man who led the task force, Admiral Sir John Woodward.

The lack of an aircraft carrier would make a repeat impossible, the ex-Navy chief had claimed.

Mr Hammond noted however that there was “not the slightest intelligence to suggest that there is any credible military threat to the Falklands”.

Argentina’s complaints – including to the United Nations – of “militarisation” by the UK will be heightened by the deployment today of the Navy’s most advanced warship for its maiden operation.

Destroyer HMS Dauntless will set sail from Portsmouth for the Falklands a day before the 30th anniversary of the task force leaving the UK for its mammoth voyage.

It comes after Argentine hackles were raised by what they claimed was the “provocative” six-week deployment of Prince William to the islands as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

The Ministry of Defence has played down what it says is a “pre-planned and routine operation” to take over the patrols of Plymouth-based frigate HMS Montrose.

Spurred on by renewed drilling for oil reserves off the Falklands, President Kirchner has spearheaded an intense reassertion of Argentina’s claim over what it calls Las Malvinas.

It has secured the support of other South American countries for a ban on Falkland-flagged ships in their ports and is seeking to restrict flights as part of an economic squeeze. At the weekend, it threatened legal action against British and American banks involved in advising UK oil exploration companies.

Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has led a push to improve UK trade and other links with South America, described Argentina’s recent aggressive actions as “deeply regrettable”.

The political tensions provided a backdrop to commemorations – notably a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum’s Millennium Chapel attended by widows of those killed.

A single candle was lit and will be left alight for the 74 days of the conflict. Among those attending was the widow of 2 Para commander Lt Col “H” Jones, who died while leading a charge against an Argentine machine gun post at Goose Green.

“The islanders have always been fiercely British and want to stay that way,” Sara Jones said.

A memorial, initiated by the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA 82), will be unveiled at the Arboretum on May 20, in front of more than 600 veterans.