UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

[lavery549@yahoo]

7 hours ago, The_DADDY said:

The UK has announced it is giving up sovereignty of a remote but strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean after more than half a century.

 

The deal – reached after years of negotiations - will see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a historic move.

 

This includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the US government as a military base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft.

 

The announcement, made in a joint statement by the UK and Mauritian Prime Ministers, ends decades of often fractious negotiations between the two countries.

 

The US-UK base will remain on Diego Garcia – a key factor enabling the deal to go forward at a time of growing geopolitical rivalries in the region between Western countries, India, and China.

The deal is still subject to finalisation of a treaty, but both sides have promised to complete it as quickly as possible.

 

"This is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law," the statement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth read.

 

The leaders also said they were committed "to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security".

 

The treaty will also "address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians".

 

The UK will provide a package of financial support to Mauritius, including annual payments and infrastructure investment.

 

Mauritius will also be able to begin a programme of resettlement on the Chagos Islands, but not on Diego Garcia.

 

There, the UK will ensure operation of the military base for "an initial period" of 99 years.

 

US President Joe Biden welcomed the "historic agreement", saying it was a "clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes".

 

He said it secured the future of a key military base which "plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security."

 

But Frankie Bontemps, a second generation Chagossian in the UK, told the BBC that he felt "betrayed" and "angry" at the news because "Chagossians have never been involved" in the negotiations.

 

"We remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland", he said, and called for the full inclusion of Chagossians in drafting the treaty.

 

Your thoughts?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98ynejg4l5o.amp

Never heard of the Islands 

[butlers]

This was a big deal even back in 1997 onwards Blair Government ,I remember it being the main story on the front pages

[High Chaparral]

15 minutes ago, butlers said:

This was a big deal even back in 1997 onwards Blair Government ,I remember it being the main story on the front pages

The Blair government had only been in power for a few months when the handover of Hong Kong back to China happened.  The credit belongs to the Margaret Thatcher government for negotiating the terms of the handover and the 50 year agreement for Hong Kong to be governed with the principle of one country and two systems.

 

 

[Longcol]

36 minutes ago, lavery549@yahoo said:

Never heard of the Islands 

 

Up until yesterday most folk thought Diego Garcia was an Argentinian footnaller.

[lavery549@yahoo]

15 minutes ago, Longcol said:

 

Up until yesterday most folk thought Diego Garcia was an Argentinian footnaller.

OOOO , isn't he 😁

[Padders]

59 minutes ago, lavery549@yahoo said:

Never heard of the Islands 

I live in the British Sector of Longley.

Hope they never give that up.........

[lavery549@yahoo]

1 minute ago, Padders said:

I live in the British Sector of Longley.

Hope they never give that up.........

Of course not , Padders . I live in the outer realms of Bradford , Curry Capital , City of Culture next year . But I never forget my roots , the Heathen Army area of Sheffield,  Ingram road , is named after the Viking meaning Raven . MMM wonder why I love those birds 

[m williamson]

1 hour ago, High Chaparral said:

.  The credit belongs to the Margaret Thatcher government for negotiating the terms of the handover and the 50 year agreement for Hong Kong to be governed with the principle of one country and two systems.

 

 

 

🤣🤣 So, how did that work out then?

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/hong-kong-freedoms-democracy-protests-china-crackdown

 

The Conservative party were in power for fourteen years from 2010.  In 2017 the Chinese Leader Xi visited Hong Kong and delivered a speech  stating " Beijing will accept no opposition ". What did the Conservatives do about that rejection of the agreement?

https://apnews.com/article/china-beijing-hong-kong-db5cb27af6fba6edf7064e5df874a889

 

There's a huge difference between ordering the Chagossians around and having the temerity to try to impose demands on countries like China.

 

 

 

[melthebell]

3 hours ago, High Chaparral said:

The Blair government had only been in power for a few months when the handover of Hong Kong back to China happened.  The credit belongs to the Margaret Thatcher government for negotiating the terms of the handover and the 50 year agreement for Hong Kong to be governed with the principle of one country and two systems.

 

 

So you was lying when you said

 

 

[melthebell]

Just now, melthebell said:

So you was lying when you said

 

 

Grrrr that didn't work, I meant

 

So you were lying when you said Thatcher wouldn't give up any British sovereign countries anywhere in the world?