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Falkland Islands: David Willetts To Visit Disputed Region As War Of Words Escalates

David Willets Falkland Islands

First Posted: 16/02/2012 09:52 Updated: 16/02/2012 14:07

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Universities minister David Willetts is due to land in the Falkland Islands on Thursday, in a move that is sure to raise the hackles of Argentina.

He is making the stop over on the islands enroute to Antarctica, where he is planning to spend time with scientists at the British Antarctic Survey, it has been reported.

Speaking to The Times, Willetts repeated the British government's line that the Falklands would remain British for as long as its people wished it.

"What matters is the right of self determination of the people in the Falklands," he said.

"They made it very clear they wish to remain British, and this should be seen part of the Britain’s historic links to the south Atlantic and the Antarctic. Britain was crucial in the opening up of the Antarctic.”

According to the paper he will hold a "morale-boosting" dinner with the governor of the Falklands, Nigel Haywood. Up for discussion is whether young people from the territory should pay tuition fees.

News of the visit comes just one day after MPs from the Commons defence committee confirmed they would visit the islands to inspect its military installations.

Islanders are preparing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their liberation from the 1982 Argentinian invasion. Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne is set to make the trip to the South Atlantic as part of the ceremonies.

The war of words between London and Buenos Aires over the sovereignty of the islands has been simmering for weeks, with Argentina particularly unhappy at the deployment of HMS Dauntless and Prince William to the region.

While the British government has condemned Argentina's decision to persuade South American countries to ban Falkland Island flagged ships from docking at their ports.

The diplomatic spat took an bizarre turn this week when Hollywood actor Sean Penn waded into the row, criticizing British "colonialism" in the region.

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Universities minister David Willetts is due to land in the Falkland Islands on Thursday, in a move that is sure to raise the hackles of Argentina. He is making the stop over on the islands enroute ...
Universities minister David Willetts is due to land in the Falkland Islands on Thursday, in a move that is sure to raise the hackles of Argentina. He is making the stop over on the islands enroute ...
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Lord Elpus
If you're going through hell, keep going
10 Fans
00:56 on 17/02/2012
Couldn't he drop off Abu Qatada on the way?
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EFMLawSF
13 Fans
00:39 on 17/02/2012
Note that another headline on this same page concerns the failing Cameron government and the collapsing UK economy. The purpose of all this jingoism is clear -- distract the easily-aroused English/Welsh soccer rabble with a little hot-blooded, swashbuckling Falklands theatre. Ronald Reagen did it with Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, and it worked. It's a cheap trick, but when public education is so bad it sucks in enough voters to make the exercise worth the trouble. Disappointed in Wills -- he could have stopped this, but he's too gentle a soul to stand up to or for anything.
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JB101
14 Fans
03:02 on 17/02/2012
What are you talking about, the argies are the ones who started this whole thing up again with their whinging and whining and you are accusing britain of starting something?? and youre having a go at William too??
Get your facts straight
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Mickey Mouse 1
60 Fans
17:11 on 16/02/2012
Who's Sean Penn?
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GearoidOD
29 Fans
16:52 on 16/02/2012
I'm guessing the withdrawal planning from Afghaniatan is nearly complete, so the Gung ho Tories are all looking for a ' little war' they think they can win ! Or at least one where the enemy dont insist on shooting back for too long !
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JB101
14 Fans
03:05 on 17/02/2012
So you think britain started this little tiff with the argies? when in fact theyre the ones who started moaning and complaining to everyone how they want the islands from us? Get your story straight, and what is that veiled insult, an enemy that doesnt insist on shooting back for too long? what...we cant take it?..is that what youre saying?
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TheGreatLeader
9 Fans
12:47 on 16/02/2012
Why is the Universities Minister going to the Falklands? Couldn't he phone? It is the Defence Minister who should be going. That would really annoy Argentina though, which is why he's not going.
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Mickey Mouse 1
60 Fans
17:13 on 16/02/2012
Something to do with university tuition fees?
Permalink  |
TheGreatLeader
9 Fans
20:22 on 16/02/2012
As I said couldn't a simple phone call do? How many university students can there be in a population of 1,500?
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jenniferjuniper42
0 Fans
17:42 on 16/02/2012
Hopefully they will keep him.
And, perhaps send for a few of his mates
Or is that too much to ask for?
Ahh wishful thinking!
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EU Referendum Required
5 Fans
12:40 on 16/02/2012
Another holiday at the taxpayers' expense!
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Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
105 Fans
13:43 on 16/02/2012
I want to go too! In fact I would love to visit the Falklands, that wild rugged country really appeals to me, real peace and quiet. Apparently the wildlife is amazing too! So, I wonder if we can all bag a ride? I am currently reading a book, One Square Inch of Silence, a quest to find real silence in today's noisy world.
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Mickey Mouse 1
60 Fans
17:15 on 16/02/2012
If you want some real silence, ask why no one in government anywhere saw the credit crunch coming!
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sand171
13 Fans
12:37 on 16/02/2012
But is the Rt Hon David Willetts telling the truth or is he covering up for a sick party mp taking back-handers?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cynic123
19 Fans
11:49 on 16/02/2012
I would think this is just Dave asking for a favour from the minister. It say's something like this:- I see your going to the Artic this week do me a favour and drop into the Faulklands and meet with the council leaders and ask them how much will it cost for them to vote to say we will go with the Aggies to save lives./ sorry face. This year will see the Faulklands go back to the Aggies.
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lenuk
85 Fans
14:54 on 16/02/2012
"...This year will see the Faulklands go back to the Aggies...."

(1) Would you like to put some money on that?

(2) How do I collect?
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JB101
14 Fans
03:09 on 17/02/2012
the falklands going to the argies? is that what yorue saying? did i read it right?
Not going to happen, too many people were hurt by losing someone special down there..and letting them have the islands now when we fought to take them back from the invaders..well...nope not going to happen.Also, they dont want to be taken over by the argies..who can blame them
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JB101
14 Fans
03:17 on 17/02/2012
i obviously meant you're not yorue, flying fingers haha
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brinberlin
73 Fans
11:20 on 16/02/2012
The Tories started the "tension" quite deliberately. Anyone who believes that the royal was sent there as a routine matter needs their head examining. The armed conflict, aka. "Thatcher's Election Saver", was waged against a fascistic dictatorship. The Argentinians have repeatedly made clear they have no intention whatsoever of indulging in anything other than dialogue.
And the comment below about Penn is beneath contempt - he has spoken out against American and other neo-colonialism, and is anti-fascist to his bones. Still, who cares about facts, when we can be jingoistic to forget our troubles.
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JB101
14 Fans
03:16 on 17/02/2012
Im not a fan of the tories, not when theyve done to britain what theyve done...but i'll stand up for them in this.they didnt start anything, the whinging whining complaining argies started the whole thing with their "dialogue" about the islands being theirs, which we all know their not. They also have kept up their complaints and also tried to get pressure from outside their country to bear on britain to give them up, they even go so far as renaming a football league so it includes the name belgrano, which anyone would know is not something you do at this particular time unless youre being provocative.
Oh and just so we're clear, the only reason the argies as you put it "have repeatedly made clear they have no intention whatsoever of indulging in anything other than dialogue" is we kicked them all the way back home once and we'd do it again if we had to...not that we want to, but they dont want to push their luck
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Call Me Dave57
18 Fans
10:51 on 16/02/2012
So when is the Sean Penn with him as General Galteria going to be made?
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