Cameron reacts to pope's Falklands statement

BRUSSELS British PM David Cameron says that he, "with all due respect", does not agree with the statement of the new pope that Falkland Islands belong to Argentina. Argentina's media quoted the words of now Pope Francis, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who in 2011 told reporters - "The Falklands (Malvinas) are ours." Cameron reacts to pope's Falklands statement "Obviously I do not agree with him, with all due respect," said Cameron in Brussels on Friday, recalling a recent referendum in which 99.8 percent residents of the islands voted to remain a British overseas territory. "The Falklands held a very clear referendum and I think the result of its message to all the world is that the people of these islands very clearly chose the future they wish for themselves," Cameron was quoted as saying. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, followed by a brief bloody war with Britain, which was completed by a British special operations unit driving out the Argentinean military. Argentina began to more intensely strive to impose its sovereignty over the islands after the discovery of oil reserves in the nearby waters. The islands are located some 400 kilometers off the South American country's coast. David Cameron (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Cameron reacts to pope's Falklands statement

"Obviously I do not agree with him, with all due respect," said Cameron in Brussels on Friday, recalling a recent referendum in which 99.8 percent residents of the islands voted to remain a British overseas territory.

"The Falklands held a very clear referendum and I think the result of its message to all the world is that the people of these islands very clearly chose the future they wish for themselves," Cameron was quoted as saying.

Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, followed by a brief bloody war with Britain, which was completed by a British special operations unit driving out the Argentinean military.

Argentina began to more intensely strive to impose its sovereignty over the islands after the discovery of oil reserves in the nearby waters. The islands are located some 400 kilometers off the South American country's coast.