Malvinas: UK rejects invitation to Argentina

UK Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne turned down on Friday an invitation sent by Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman to visit Argentina. Timerman had hoped to meet with the UK government official in Buenos Aires when Browne makes his trip to the Malvinas islands next week.

The Foreign Office said that “Mr Browne was grateful for the invitation,” however “he has a full schedule of events in the Falkland Islands to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the conflict there.”

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office underlined that “The UK has a longstanding interest in building a stronger partnership with Argentina on a broad range of issues of mutual interest.”

However, with regard to the sovereignty of the Malvinas islands the UK government remained firm in their stance, making it clear that “the only issue that we will not discuss is the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, until and unless the Islanders wish us to do so.”

The FCO further stated that they "will issue a formal response in due course."