South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA and former soldier Danny Kinahan has rejected the latest bid by Argentina to pressurise Britain to open talks on the future of the Falkland Islands.

Speaking as the Islanders and UK forces prepare to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Argentinian invasion of the islands, Mr Kinahan said:

“On the 2nd April 1982 Argentina’s military dictatorship invaded the Falkland Islands in a desperate bid to use nationalism as a means of distracting its people from a worsening economic situation.

“As a serving soldier stationed on the Falklands in 1983, I saw at first hand the damage caused by the occupation, the relief which the Islanders felt at the restoration of British sovereignty and their gratitude for the bravery of HM Armed Forces, 255 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Argentina has spent a great deal of time and money on a variety of diplomatic charm offensives – the latest of which has entailed sending a book to Northern Ireland MLAs - in a bid to pressurise the British Government into opening talks on the future of the islands. Successive Argentinian governments have sought to deploy a variety of arguments and strategies in a bid to win support for their claim, but in my opinion the wishes of the Islanders must be paramount.

“The Falkland Islanders have demonstrated repeatedly that they wish to retain the link with the UK and have no desire to enter into any process which jeopardises their status. We in Northern Ireland understand that position only too well.

“I am confident that no British Government worthy of the name would ever defy their wishes and betray either the Islanders, or the men who fought so bravely to liberate them in 1982.”