Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

South America and South Atlantic Islands

Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)

 Flag of Falkland Islands


Last reviewed: 26 June 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with the UK

Diplomatic Representation

The principal points of contact in the British Government are either:

the Overseas Territories Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Telephone 020 7008 1500 or by email to otdenquires@fco.gov.uk

or, alternatively, Government House in Stanley, Telephone + 500 28200, or by email to gov.house@horizon.co.fk.

The Falkland Islands Government maintains an office in the UK, Telephone 020 7222 2542, or by email to reception@falklands.gov.fk.

Recent Visits

2007 marked the 25th Anniversary of the conflict.  Commemoration events in the Islands included visits by HRH the Earl of Wessex, the then MoD Minister of the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, and the Minister of Veterans, Derek Twigg.  

HRH The Princess Royal paid a visit to the Islands in early 2009 and Meg Munn, the then FCO Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories, visited in January 2008.

Current international issues directly involving the Falkland Islands

Britain is pledged to look after the Overseas Territories international relations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office represents the Islands’ interests abroad, but does so in consultation with the Falkland Island Government.

Argentine relations with the Islands

In 1999 the elected Legislative Councillors of the Falklands Islands asked Britain to arrange talks with Argentina on South Atlantic issues of mutual interest. The British Government, which had consistently encouraged the Islanders to broaden their contacts with Argentina while reassuring them that this would have no implications for sovereignty, welcomed their decision. Following meetings in London and New York, the Foreign Secretary and the Argentine Foreign Minister signed a Joint Statement and exchanged letters on 14 July to record the understandings reached. As a result:

• The Falkland Islands Government lifted their ban on visits by Argentine passport holders introduced in 1982;

• Argentina secured the consent of Chile to the immediate resumption of the weekly Chilean airline flight between Chile and the Falklands (suspended by Chile since April in connection with the detention of General Pinochet in Britain). Since 16 October 1999 the flights have made one stop per month in each direction at Rio Gallegos in Argentina;

• The parties enhanced co-operation on conservation of fish stocks and implemented practical measures against poaching of fish stocks by unlicensed vessels from third countries;

• A memorial to members of the Argentine armed services killed in action in 1982 has been constructed at the Argentine cemetery in the Islands;

Unfortunately, Argentina’s approach towards the Islands has deteriorated recently.  In 2003 Argentina imposed a ban on chartered aircraft flying from, or through, their airspace to the Falkland Islands.  They have also introduced legislation designed to penalise hydrocarbons operators in Argentina who also have interests in the Falkland Islands.  In March 2007 Argentina withdrew from the 1995 Anglo-Argentine Joint Declaration on Co-operation over Offshore Activities in the South West Atlantic.  In 2008 they introduced legislation designed to penalise fishing companies operating in both Argentine and Falkland Island waters.

The British government and the Falkland Islanders regret this unjustified change in Argentine policy.  Despite this, the British government remains keen to seek opportunities where we can work together with Argentina on areas of mutual interest in the South Atlantic (e.g. fisheries conservation), and to promote better co-operation within the region and between the people of Argentina and the Islands.  But only if these areas do not infringe upon the British sovereignty of the Islands.  

Landmines
In 2008, the UK sought and obtained a 10 year extension to March 2019 to its original 2009 deadline to clear all the mined areas in the Falkland Islands under the Ottawa Convention (anti-personnel mine ban convention).

There have never been any civilian injuries in the Islands from landmines since the conflict ended.  The mined areas are clearly marked, fenced and monitored.  When landmines do surface and potentially pose a threat in and around the mined areas they are cleared by an Explosive Ordnance Team that is permanently based on the Falkland Islands.  The ongoing work by the EOD team means the mined areas pose a minimal risk to the Falkland Islanders.

Country information

Pick Another Country :

Share this with:

Travel Advice

Travel Advice: Falkland Islands

Useful Links



Contacts

Falkland Islands, Stanley, Government House

Address:

Government House
Stanley, FIQQ 1ZZ

Telephone:

(500) 28200
(500) 27110 Secretariat for Chief Executive

Fax:

(500) 28201

Email: gov.house@horizon.co.fk

Office hours:

GMT (early Sept to Mid April): Mon-Fri: 1100-1500 / 1615-1930

GMT (Mid April to early Sept): Mon-Fri: 1200-1600 / 1715-2030

Local Time: Mon-Fri: 0800-1200 / 1315-1630