diplom diplomacy politics is about
negotiation is about ongoing debate if
one man lived on rockol you wouldn't say
that that one man had the sovereignty
over rockol it's British and it's the
British government's decision what to do
about the islands there's only 2,300
people 8,000 M away we're almost
bankrupt and you won't even talk to the
people who say that the islands are
theirs Georg
just won't won't they want one thing and
they don't agree with but Geor is is
better than war war you know that better
than anybody else a distinguished
Soldier you just heard the Admiral we
can't even defend these if Argentina
invaded without an aircraft carrier we
couldn't even fight them so let's talk
to them and share the sovereignty that's
my point of view clear Argentina should
not invade this is a matter of national
self-determination I have worked for the
United Nations I totally agree that
people should decide what they want to
do these islands were Windswept and
uninhabited when the first people went
there they raised sheep or whatever they
did and they they were British they
there were no argentines there Argentina
wasn't even in existence then and
suddenly this fous claim think it of
course it was there but it wasn't in the
political entity it is now Bob the key
point is National self-determination the
fanders even by their own claim are not
a nation they are a group of people who
say that they're British if they're
British the decision on what happens
with these islands is ours not theirs
but can I just ask if the people of of
the Falcons I think we pretty well know
what the results going to be if they
vote overwhelmingly that they want to
stay British and have this as a British
territory you don't think we should
listen to that no because the
sovereignty belongs to us if it belongs
to anybody not to them you can't be
dictated by 23 is there any other part
of the world where you think
self-determination is wrong yes in the
north of Ireland you cannot say because
a Jerry Mander entity has a majority now
maybe not later that you won't talk to
the people who say this isand is their
well we've done the right thing in
Ireland we've started a politic the
people of Northern Ireland voted to stay
part of Britain in a pite and they're
part of Britain we listened why wouldn't
we not do that with the F can I just
point out that I let him ask a question
then I'll come to you because the
negotiation which led to the Irish peace
process is the opposite of what Cameron
did with Kar the other day we didn't
walk away from the Republic of Ireland
refus to talk to them Eng them and we
had a diplomatic solution I mean we are
8,000 mil away Argentina is not that far
away it's part of the geopolitics of
that region wouldn't it be in our
long-term interest to begin a dialogue
with them yes but let's have a dialogue
where which is sensible the at the
moment what would you talk to them about
I I would say look let's get this sorted
out these people want to remain as they
are we want I particularly would like to
see them open up trade negotiations and
that sort of thing which is actually
closed in South America certainly in
Argentina at the moment that is a
problem I would like there to be
friendly relations I'd like there to be
a direct flight an easy direct flight
into Argentina and back I would like
argentinians to come and visit the the
Warg Graves and the people would that be
a start would never never happened
because Argentina claims the right to
these islands and
Latin point
we've discussed this before if we make a
deal now we can share sovereignty with
ar Argentina which by the way will make
us quids in instead of spending billions
with the possibility of many billions
more with soldiers we don't have and
aircraft carriers we don't have we can
AR has no mil the Argentina military
hasn't been updated since 1982 Andrew
you wouldn't need it I was in the Army
Cadet Force our uh Royal artillery
Squadron could could land on the Fons
tomorrow and the British couldn't do
that about it we don't even have an
sorry I disagree with that that's wrong
I've just been there they certainly
could not they certainly could not I
mean at the moment we we are quite
strong on that but we're only strong the
argentinians are saying the British are
remilitarized the folklands I tell you
why we're down there in strength it's
because 30 years ago 900 people 255 of
them British were killed in a silly
dispute that should never have happened
because they started it and the Tes were
ready to share sovereignty at that time
so look back I know you've not been in
Parliament that long look back I'm old
enough the government were ready to
share sovereignty at that time both the
Tor government and the labor government
think they were talking about can I I
just ask you a real politique question I
mean the Fulon Islands over the years
has cost Britain quite a lot of money I
think it's about 61 million a year to
and of course it's cost more importantly
the lives that were lost in retaking it
30 years ago why would you want to give
it up now when it looks there may be
some oil revenues to be had because you
might have to give it up in total later
my politics is well the Latin American
subcontinent is 100% behind our not you
said this to me last time I looked at it
even the Spanish have now turned against
Argentina the Spanish are a long way
away but the Brazilians the argentinians
The Growing Power of Venezuela and
Ecuador and these countries that are
rich we should have good relations with
them so let's make good relations with
them share the oil and gas in the
forlands save ourselves the money and
not have to send an aircraft carrier and
lose more men