§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on opening negotiations with Argentina regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. [R] [100017]
§ Mr. BattleThere is no doubt about British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, confirmed in international law. This is not negotiable. We are committed to defend the Islanders' right to determine their own future.
In consultation with the Falkland Islands Government, we continue to discuss with Argentina issues of common interest in the South Atlantic, for example the conservation of fish stocks, in order to improve the way we manage our differences with Argentina that arise from our respective positions on sovereignty. The British-Argentine Joint Statement of 14 July was a significant milestone in this process.