Fury as Argentina RIPS UP Falklands pact and demands crunch talks with UK over sovereignty of British islands
MINISTERS have vented their fury at Argentina after it demanded fresh talks on the sovereignty of the Falklands.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was informed at the G20 summit in India of Argentina's decision to rip up a co-operation agreement.
He insisted: “The Falkland Islands are British.
“Islanders have the right to decide their own future.
“They have chosen to remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.”
His counterpart Santiago Cafiero said he was bringing to an end the 2016 agreement to improve co-operation on South Atlantic issues of mutual interest.
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He said he wanted discussions on the islands’ future.
It was announced as Foreign Office Minister David Rutley was visiting Buenos Aires.
He said he was "disappointed" Argentina had decided to tear up the co-operation pact.
He said: "Argentina has chosen to step away from an agreement that has brought comfort to the families of those who died in the 1982 conflict.
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"Argentina, the UK and the Falklands all benefited from this agreement,"
Argentina claims it holds sovereignty over the islands, which it calls the Malvinas.
Britain fought a war to retake the Falklands after Argentina invaded in 1982.
It cost the lives of 255 British military personnel and 649 Argentinians.
Four decades on, veterans and relatives of those killed flew to Port Stanley for a poignant Remembrance Sunday in November.
