text: Our attitude towards Argentina is not negative. It is Argentina that seeks to assert its sovereignty claim. The remor.,al of that claim would remove the annual Falkland question from this Committee and remove our long-term apprehension about that country. Attendance at the Committee pr011ides an opportunity to t.ell the world that we, the permanent residents of the Falkland Islands, have nothing to hide. We are quite prepared to continue attending sessions of the Committee to answer the criticisms levelled against us. I should like to draw the Committee's attention to JP/td A/AC.109/PV .1369 22 (Mr~· Cliftonl the opening remarks made last year by the representative of Cuba about the lack of representativity from the Islands. There is no other story to be told, or heard, dlfferent from that given bo{ Mr. Peck and myself. The Falkland Islands weloomed the bilateral acx:ord reached between the United Kingdom and Argentina in February. We were pleased that a for1111la could be found to put aside the Argentine soverelgnty claim to our Islands under the unbrella of that accord. But the draft resolution before the Committee does nothing to gain Islanders' confidence. lt is clearly little changed from previous resolutions and seeks to promote negotiations on sovereignty over our Islands between Ber Majesty's Government and Argentina. Without exception, Falkland Islanders d:> not wish to see a change of British sovereign status, and I therefore urge the menbers of the Committee not to vote for the draft resolution. For 9:> long as Argentina pursues its sovereignty claim over my homeland, Islanders will be ever more determined to remain forceful in their wish to maintain the status· qoo. In other words, we want no cultural, political, educational ex social relationships with Argentina. The CHAIRMAN: I call on Mr. Thanson. Mr. THOM.SON: I am deeply grateful to be allowed to petitioo the 
analysis: The text appears to be a statement by the representative of the Falkland Islands, discussing their sovereignty claim and their opposition to a draft resolution that could lead to negotiations with Argentina over the status of the Islands. The main concerns seem to be related to the potential impact on the Islanders' way of life, their culture, and their relationship with the UK.