Domestic Politics Drive UK's Falklands Moves -Argentina

Published: Feb 02, 2012

BUENOS AIRES (AFP)--Argentina said Thursday that the U.K. was trying to distract its public from high unemployment and other domestic problems by saber-rattling in the Falkland Islands.

Vice President Amado Boudou's reaction came amid rising tensions with the approach of the 30th anniversary of the brief but bloody war the two countries fought for the disputed South Atlantic archipelago.

The latest irritants were the arrival of Prince William in the Falklands Thursday for a six week Royal Air Force deployment and London's announcement earlier this week it would soon deploy a warship to the islands.

The moves "have to do with British domestic politics, with the high unemployment. This is an attempt to cover for a government that has a low level of accomplishment," Boudou said on La Red radio.

The government of President Cristina Kirchner on Tuesday accused Britain of trying to militarize the diplomatic conflict over the Malvinas, as the islands are known in the Spanish speaking world, and it expressed regret over Prince William's deployment.

Argentina has received the backing of Latin American countries for its claim of sovereignty over the remote, wind-lashed islands that were occupied by Britain in 1833.