Britain has played down a report from a UN commission which rules that the disputed Falkland Islands lie inside Argentine waters, reports The Guardian.
The Argentine foreign ministry seized on the findings of the UN commission on the limits of the continental shelf, which expand its maritime territory in the South Atlantic Ocean by 35% to include the disputed Falkland islands and beyond.
But the British prime minister’s official spokeswoman said the UK government had not yet seen the full report, and stressed that the commission was merely an advisory body.
The UN commission on the limits of the continental shelf sided with Argentina, ratifying the country’s 2009 report fixing the limit of its territory at 200 to 350 miles from its coast.
As a result, the Argentine foreign ministry claimed its waters had increased by 1.7m sq-km and the decision of the UN commission will be key in its dispute with Britain over the islands.
Argentina lost a brief, bloody 1982 war with Britain after Argentinian troops seized the South Atlantic archipelago.
The UN commission’s finding included the caveat that there is an unresolved diplomatic dispute between Argentina and Britain over the islands.
The Falklands are internally self-governing, but Britain is responsible for its defence and foreign affairs. The British government says islanders cannot be forced to accept Argentinian sovereignty against their will.
The Islands authorities said on Monday it was seeking clarification from the British government on “what, if any, decisions have been made, and what implications there may be” for the territory in relation to the UN ruling.
