Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
SKY NEWS
People have braved snow and strong winds in Port Stanley to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Falkands war, as Argentina went to the United Nations over its sovereignty claim.
The streets of Port Stanley were decorated with British and Falklands flags for the anniversary, as Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner demanded talks with London over sovereignty of the British-ruled islands in her UN speech, reports Sky News.
"The celebration of liberation is the most important event of the year," hotel owner Alex Olmedo said
The festivities in Port Stanley were full of reflection and expectations for the future ahead of a planned referendum in 2013 on the political status of the oil-rich islands.
"This is an opportunity for Falkland Islanders to celebrate our continued freedom to live as we determine for ourselves and to look forward to a bright and confident future," resident Graham Didlick said.
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne, who attended the Port Stanley service, said Falklanders had a "fundamental right" to "decide their own destiny."
However, President Fernandez de Kirchner said in her speech to the UN's Decolonisation Committee: "We are not asking anyone to say yes, the Malvinas belong to Argentina.
"We are asking no more, no less than to sit down and talk."
She sat stony-faced through speeches by two Falklands representatives who complained about Argentina's "bullying" tactics.
Mrs Fernandez de Kirchner also held talks with UN leader Ban Ki-Moon who "reiterated that his good offices to resolve this dispute remain available if the parties are willing to engage," UN spokesman, Martin Nesirky said.
Britain has insisted however that it will not discuss sovereignty as long as the 3,000 people on the wind-swept islands want to remain under the British flag.
Prime Minister David Cameron vowed that Britain would fight off any "aggression from over the water" in a London tribute to the war dead.
"When it comes to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, there will be absolutely no negotiation," he said.
"This is not some game of global monopoly, with nations passing a territory between them. It's about the islanders determining their own future."