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Chavez: â€œBritain should return the islands to Argentinaâ€

20 February 2010 22:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. In a televised speech, Mr Chavez said Britain was flouting international law and should return the islands to Argentina, APA reports citing â€œwww.skynews.comâ€ website.

"The British are desperate for oil since their own fields in the North Sea are now being depleted," he said.

"When will England stop breaking international law? Return the Malvinas to Argentina!"
The socialist leader said he supports Argentina’s protests over planned drilling in the Falklands, known as the Malvinas in Spanish. He claims foreign powers envy Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.

"The English are desperate, the Yankees are desperate and here we have the biggest petroleum reserves in the world," he said. Oil companies are keen to exploit the waters off the Falklands.

Several British companies are poised to begin exploration using an offshore rig, and Desire petroleum has licensed six areas where it predicts 3.5 billion barrels of oil and nine trillion cubic. Despite being ejected from the islands after a two-month occupation and war in 1982, Argentina continues to claim sovreignty over the islands and is attempting to block the planned drilling.

Earlier this week, Buenos Aires said it would require all ships from the islands to obtain permits to dock in Argentina.

The Foreign Office said Britain was ready to co-operate with Argentina on South Atlantic issues and was working to develop relations between the two countries.

"Argentina and the UK are important partners," said the Foreign Office spokesman.
In a radio interview, Gordon Brown said the action was "perfectly within our rights" and that the UK had made all preparations necessary to ensure proper protection of the Falkland Islanders.