Argentine President Cristina Kirchner on Tuesday slammed as a “parody” the referendum in the disputed Falkland islands, where residents voted in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.
“What is important today is the United States’ position about this kind of parody of a referendum,” Kirchner said at the Casa Rosada presidential mansion.
“The State Department spokeswoman said that they continue to recognise that there is a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain,” she said, even though Washington is London’s most powerful ally.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland “stated that what they did (residents of the islands) does not change the United States’ diplomatic stand, which always has been to support a diplomatic resolution of the conflict through dialogue,” Kirchner stressed.
Argentina, which has claimed the South Atlantic islands since 1833, wants the United Nations to mediate in a dialogue that would end their disputed sovereignty. Britain has refused UN requests that it take part in such dialogue.
