UK-Argentina Relations

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office – in the House of Commons am 2:30 pm ar 2 Mawrth 2010.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Chris Bryant Chris Bryant Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Europe) 2:30, 2 Mawrth 2010

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to say that this is a matter of self-determination for the people of the Falklands. When some people-Argentines-suggest that there are not any indigenous people to the Falklands, I point out that many people from Argentina are of Italian, British, Scottish and German stock, going back fewer generations than the presence on the Falklands Islands. [Hon. Members: "And Welsh."] For that matter, as several hon. Members are pointing out, many people of Welsh stock live in Patagonia.

I know that the relationships between our two countries are very strong, and there are many areas in which Argentina has been extremely courageous, not least in relation to counter-proliferation. We stand ready to work with it on all those issues, as I pointed out to the chargé d'affaires the other day. It would be good if it had an ambassador back in London.