Argentine Falkland pressure mounts

Published 23.02.2010 11:15:38 by John Bradbury

More pressure was being mounted on the British government over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands as the second day of drilling on the Liz prospect off the north of the islands continued.

After Desire Petroleum spudded the 14/19a exploration well on the Liz prospect yesterday with the Ocean Guardian semi-submersible, South American countries meeting in Cancun in Mexico have drawn up a document reportedly giving Argentina unanimous support over its territorial claim to the islands the BBC reported.

Argentina formally objected to new drilling off the Islands and with its renewed sovereignty claim which it is due to take to the United Nations this week, it is by implication, seeking to secure any oil wealth which may lie off the Islands.

According to the BBC, a document has been drawn up in Cancun which supports the Argentine territorial claim, with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner cited by the BBC in the report.

De Kirchner has accused the UK of ignoring international law by permitting a British exploration company to begin drilling off the islands, the BBC said.

And Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is among the South American leaders who have thrown their weight behind Argentina to reclaim the Falklands, or the Malvinas, as Argentina calls them.

Meanwhile the UK government's defence ministry has said it will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Islands.

Last May the UK Ministry of Defence retired HMS Exeter, the last Royal Navy ship to have taken part in the 1982 war with Argentina over the Islands. Exeter, a type 42 destroyer, shot down four Argentine aircraft during the conflict. Another Royal Navy type 42 destroyer, HMS York, is now patrolling off the Falkland Islands as drilling in the North Falkland Basin continues.

Once Desire Petroleum completes the Liz well, Rockhopper Exploration is due to take on the Ocean Guardian to spud its first well off the Islands on the Seal Lion prospect in North Falklands block 14/10B.

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