The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London has formally protested today to the Argentine Chargé, , about the Argentine Congress’s passing of an amendment to their Hydrocarbons Law No 26.659 which seeks to criminalise individuals or companies with a direct or indirect interest in hydrocarbon activities in waters surrounding the Falkland Islands.

The British Government fully supports the rights of the Falkland Islanders to develop their hydrocarbons sector for their economic benefit. This right is an integral part of their right of self-determination, which is expressly contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. All hydrocarbons activities on the continental shelf of the are regulated by legislation of the Falkland Islands Government, in strict accordance with the .