Falklands War: UK and Argentina mark invasion 30 years on

LONDON. April 2. KAZINFORM. A single candle is to be lit at Britain's National Arboretum to mark the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War. Kazinform has learned from BBC.

Argentina invaded the islands, which it calls the Malvinas, on 2 April 1982.

The UK responded by sending a taskforce to regain the Falklands. More than 250 British and 649 Argentine troops died.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron will mark the anniversary by telling the Falkland islanders he remains committed to upholding British sovereignty.

The anniversary of the invasion falls against a backdrop of renewed tension over the islands, with Argentina reiterating its claim to the archipelago.

Britain has controlled the Falklands since 1833 but Argentina claims the territory, saying it inherited its rights to them from Spain.

Argentina has asked for negotiations about sovereignty but the British government says they will not do so without the agreement of the islanders.

London has also accused Buenos Aires of trying to impose an economic blockade on the islanders, after it banned Falklands-flagged ships from docking in its ports, as well as those of other countries which are members of the Mercosur trading block.

Argentina has also complained about what it calls British "militarisation" in the south Atlantic, after one of the Royal Navy's newest warships was deployed to the region.

 


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