Latin American and Caribbean nations have backed Argentina's claim of sovereignty to the Falkland Islands in a growing dispute with Britain over plans to drill for oil off the islands in the Atlantic.

At the Rio Group summit of 32 countries hosted by Mexico, Argentina presented a statement quoting Mexican President Felipe Calderon as saying that "the heads of state represented here reaffirm their support for the legitimate rights of the republic of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute with Great Britain".

Britain and Argentina have long disputed sovereignty of the Falkland Islands - known as Las Malvinas in Latin America - and fought a war over them in 1982.

The issue was relatively calm until a British oil exploration company recently announced drilling plans there.

Desire Petroleum said it has started drilling for oil about 60 miles north of the disputed Falkland Islands, despite strong opposition from Argentina. The country claims the south Atlantic islands as its own.

"The well is being drilled to an estimated target depth of circa 3,500 metres," the company said in a statement. "Drilling operations are expected to take approximately 30 days."

The dispute over the Falklands dates back to the 19th century, when the islands were seized by the British.

Anger over the sovereignty issue still lingers and has been exacerbated by the prospect that Argentina could lose out on mineral wealth discovered offshore.

Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez has ruled out any plans to try to keep the British boats or rigs out. "We do not believe in methods like blockades," she told reporters.

that is not our problem

Its a general question, An answer is required not a solution

omar22:

Its a general question, An answer is required not a solution

oya,give an answer then,Mr Headmaster

omar22:

Its a general question,  An answer is required not a solution

what has your question got to do with nigeria immediate problem abeg,we've got an offshore president matter to deal with rather than this crap

what has your question got to do with nigeria immediate problem abeg,we've got an offshore president matter to deal with rather than this crap

No one put a gun to your head and force you to answer it, theirs an on/off button in front of you, you could use it,

oya,give an answer then,Mr Headmaster

"Light moves faster than sound, some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak."

we know where useless thread like this end, ode, falkland ko,isale eko ni

@poster

You need help

@mr presdent, I'm on your side.
@poster, kindly donate 10,000 naira of your money to any motherless babies home, then i will give you an answer to the very important question you have asked because your life depends on it.

@poster, kindly donate 10,000 naira of your money to any motherless babies home, then i will give you an answer to the very important question you have asked because your life depends on it.

Dumbo!!!

Did I say my life depends on it? get your facts right,

omar22:


Dumbo!!!

Did I say my life depends on it? get your facts right,

Look, you're in the UK. The British fought a war for this, so go ask them!

We in Nigeria have other (local) issues to worry about. I paid N105 for a litre of fuel in Port Harcourt yesterday and you expect me to worry myself over Falklands?

The Brits are always getting involved in someone else's business. They are the reason why Naija is so messed up.

The British and all other colonial thieves should return all stolen land and wealth.

Even though this issue is not directly related to Nigeria, the ramifications still affect us. Afterall, our art and other treasures are still held in British museums.

Katsumoto:

The British and all other colonial thieves should return all stolen land and wealth.

Even though this issue is not directly related to Nigeria, the ramifications still affect us. Afterall, our art and other treasures are still held in British museums.

considering the fact that a war was fought between britain and argentina over this, thats kind of moot. if i recall the falklands a bunch of islands in the ocean - all these claims were just tenuous - until there was a war - which changes everything

oyb:

considering the fact that a war was fought between britain and argentina over this, thats kind of moot. if i recall the falklands a bunch of islands in the ocean - all these claims were just tenuous - until there was a war - which changes everything

Yes a war was fought over the falklands in 1982 but who has a greater claim to the falklands? Britain, which is over 8000 miles away or Argentina, which is about 300 miles from the Falklands. Argentina is the closest country to the falklands. If any other country should dispute ownership, it should be another South American country and not an European country. It just smacks of imperialism.

Even though this issue is not directly related to Nigeria, the ramifications still affect us. Afterall, our art and other treasures are still held in British museums.

You need to have global view and you will understand local problem.

May be you dont know that same UK, USA, France and that stupid Mr Obasanjo stolen Bakassi from Nigeria and give it to Cameroun.

When you understand how these folks work, you will be able to protect what you have locally.

I have always been amused by this British adventure in the Falklands.

Northern Ireland next door is fighting to retain its identity and sovereignty by resisting the British
and the British are claiming the Falklands, in this 21st century.

This is the mother of al greed(S) if there is any word like that.

otawa:

You need to have global view and you will understand local problem.

May be you dont know that same UK, USA, France and that silly Mr Obasanjo stolen Bakassi from Nigeria and give it to Cameroun.

When you understand how these folks work, you will be able to protect what you have locally.

So how does this detract from my initial message? Are you saying something different from what I said?
For your information, I am well versed on the issue of Bakassi. The judgement in the Hague which ceded Bakassi to Cameroun was based on the Treaty of Versailles (1919).

My initial message was that Imperialists should not be allowed to keep what they stole (Art, Land) and that European decisions should not be used to judge other world matters (Falklands, Bakassi).

This post should be in the foreign affairs section. That nothwithstanding. Great Britain should hold the island firmly.
The island was discovered by Great Britain and peopled by the British. While Spain had Argentina, Great Britain had Island.
It might have been close to Argentina but not theirs.
The most thing to happen to the island is to become an independent nation.

Andre Uweh:

This post should be in the foreign affairs section. That nothwithstanding. Great Britain should hold the island firmly.
The island was discovered by Great Britain and peopled by the British. While Spain had Argentina, Great Britain had Island.
It might have been close to Argentina but not theirs.
The most thing to happen to the island is to become an independent nation.

This is what I do not understand about Europeans and their apologists. How can you discover land that was inhabited by other people? Its the same bull.shit with America; Indian tribes were resident in America, yet Europeans claim that Columbus discovered it. The British were the first Europeans to visit the Falklands, that doesn't not give them the legitimate right to claim it.

Does Spain still have legitimate rights over South America bar Brasil? All imperialists must return stolen property.

The Falklands never had anybody living on them though.

It is morally wron for Argentina and her law-makers to wake up overnight and say '' This island is ours as it is close to us''.
Anyway, they deserve what they got in 1982.

Andre Uweh:

It is morally wron for Argentina and her law-makers to wake up overnight and say '' This island is ours as it is close to us''.
Anyway, they deserve what they got in 1982.

What did they got?

The Falklands never had anybody living on them though.

indeed.

Just like they came to discover River Niger!

***yawns***, anyone found our President yet?

Kenezi:

The Falklands never had anybody living on them though.

There have been discoveries that indicate Yaghan Indians may have inhabited it at some point. How do we know that Europeans did not butcher these people? Being a small island, it is possible that everyone on the Island may have been butchered. You only need to read the history of Spanish and Portuguese conquests of Latin America to ascertain that it is not a far-fetched conclusion.

whats this f.c.kingland got to do with nigeria state at the moment .pls abeg dont drive me to sleeeep.

ode remo:

whats this f.c.kingland got to do with nigeria state at the moment .pls abeg dont drive me to sleeeep.

No one is forcing you to read it. Besides, one day, Nigeria may have to fight to get Bakassi back and we will need to tell the Europeans to stay out of an African issue.

No one is forcing you to read it. Besides, one day, Nigeria may have to fight to get Bakassi back and we will need to tell the Europeans to stay out of an African issue.

thanks. horses for courses. the day Nigeria fight to get bakassi back, i will cook and eat my agbada in front view of my village.

ode remo:


thanks. horses for courses. the day Nigeria fight to get bakassi back, i will cook and eat my agbada in front view of my village.

Please your name and address

ode remo:


thanks. horses for courses. the day Nigeria fight to get bakassi back, i will  cook and eat my agbada in front view of my village.

and the Alaye of Ode will sure eat with you

Please your name and address

you might think its funny, but that day is a mirage. name is the son of fomer olisa of ode remo. you dont need the add. anyway cos that day will not come to pass.but come to my town sha.