Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage reiterated the Islanders strong historic claim to the Falklands in Parliament today.
During Foreign Office Questions, the local MP stressed that the Islanders right to self-determination as the long-term inhabitants of the Falklands undermined Argentinean claims to the territory. She asked the Foreign Secretary:
"Whether he shares my view that Argentina's repeated reference to an 'illegal occupation' ignores the principle of self determination?"
Foreign Secretary William Hague noted his agreement in stating that:
"We support the right to self-determination of the Falkland Islanders. For us, this is not about territory, but the rights of those people who have settled there for generations". He went on to inform the House of Commons that a 9th generation islander had just been born, underlining the fact that "some families have been settled there since before Argentina existed in its current form".
The Gosport MP also used the opportunity to congratulate the Foreign Secretary for the "responsible and diplomatic way" in which the anniversary of the Falkland Conflict has been handled. Events have been taking place throughout the UK to mark the 30th anniversary since the start of the conflict, including Caroline's own event held in Parliament earlier in the month in honour of the Falklands veterans.
