Lord Cameron has been declared ‘persona non grata’ by a self-taught Argentinian political leader after landing in the Falklands and warning that British sovereignty over the islands is ‘not in question’.
Gustavo Melella, governor of the South American country’s southernmost province of Tierra del Fuego, said the foreign minister was not welcome anywhere in his region after a tirade accusing him of a “new British provocation” during his visit to the Falkland Islands.
Mr Melella, criticized by Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear team after they were forced to flee Argentina in 2014 following a row over his provocative Porsche number plate, responded when the former prime minister said he hoped the islanders wanted to remain British ‘forever’ after visiting the Falklands War. fighting places.
The Buenos Aires-born politician distanced himself from the more conciliatory tone of the Argentine government on the disputed territory – and referred to the Falklands as the Malvinas, which is the name for the islands in Spanish-speaking countries -: “The presence of David Cameron in our Malvinas Islands represents a new British provocation aimed at undermining our legitimate sovereign rights over our territories and perpetuating colonialism in the 21st century.
“We won’t allow it.”
Lord David Cameron walks around Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Date of photo: Monday February 19, 2024
Lord David Cameron (right) arrives at Mount Pleasant Air Base in the Falkland Islands
Lord David Cameron (right) attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Falklands conflict memorial in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, during his high-profile visit to show they are a ‘valued part of the British family’, amid renewed Argentine calls for conversations about their future
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron visits San Carlos Cemetery in the Falkland Islands
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Falklands Conflict Memorial in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands
Gustavo Melella (C), governor of the South American country’s southernmost province of Tierra del Fuego, said the foreign minister was not welcome anywhere in his region
Mr Melella then declared David Cameron ‘Persona Non Grata for the entire territorial expansion of our province’
Stressing that the Falklands belonged to Argentina by “history and right”, he continued: “No colonial representative of a state that threatens our territorial integrity by tarnishing the memory and eternal sacrifice of our Malvinas heroes will be welcome in our province.’
Mr. Melella, the first openly gay person to be elected provincial governor in Argentina, ended his tirade on of Argentina. our province.’
Falkland Islands politician Gavin Short responded by urging the leader of Tierra del Fuego for a quick response: “Keep an eye on your blood pressure or you might get a fit of fumes – and reduce the volume of your screeching while I try to get some sleep here in the free Falklands.’
He continued: “And how do you declare someone ‘persona non grata’ in a country that is not yours and over which you have no control? I’m just asking for a friend. Best wishes from the free Falklands.’
His angry words were in stark contrast to those of Argentina’s central government, with a spokesperson for the country’s Foreign Office saying in a brief statement: “The UK can both support the islanders’ right to self-determination and maintain good relations with Argentina. where we agree to disagree on sovereignty, but work together constructively in areas of shared interest.”
Argentine government sources told respected daily Clarin that they hoped David Cameron conveyed a “positive vision” of the country’s new right-wing government and the “political will of both countries to establish a closer and constructive dialogue.”
Lord David Cameron visits a museum in Goose Green in the Falkland Islands
Cameron (centre) meets locals at San Carlos Cemetery in the Falkland Islands, during his high-profile visit
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron visits San Carlos Cemetery in the Falkland Islands
Lord Cameron’s visit is the first by a Foreign Secretary since 1994 and he has stressed that the archipelago’s sovereignty is ‘not… in question’.
Mr Melella was mayor of the southern Argentine city of Rio Grande when Jeremy Clarkson upset locals by driving a Porsche with the license plate H982 FKL.
Argentine veterans of the Falklands War claimed it referred to the 1982 conflict.
Mr Clarkson and fellow Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May fled their hotel in nearby Ushuaia after the lobby was raided by angry ex-servicemen who told them to leave “or face the consequences”.
The trio flew to the capital Buenos Aires before returning to Britain.
Nearly thirty other members of the film crew got stoned as they drove down the road to Chile and had to leave Clarkson’s Porsche and the other two cars on the side of the road.
Mr Melella vowed at the time to lodge an official protest at the British Embassy in Argentina, saying: ‘We are peace-loving people but they caused the initial violence by coming to our country the way they did.’
Jeremy Clarkson responded by claiming the violent protest was ‘state organised’ and accused the likes of Melella of taking advantage of the Top Gear visit for ‘political capital’, while insisting the controversial license plate was an ‘incredible coincidence’ was and not an insult. was intended.
Lord Cameron’s visit to the Falkland Islands is the first by a member of the Cabinet since Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon’s visit in 2016.
The last visit by a Foreign Secretary was Lord Hurd in 1994.
He will travel to Paraguay later today and become the first foreign minister to ever visit the country.
Last month, Lord Cameron met Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, for the first time since the right-wing victory in the South American country’s presidential election in November.
The politicians met at the Davos summit in Switzerland.