Falklands war hero blasts EU as they call islands 'Malvinas' in Argentina win

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Simon Weston, who suffered terrible injuries when his troop carrier was bombed in the 1982 conflict, lambasted Brussels for calling the archipelago "Islas Malvinas"

Simon Weston said he was "disappointed" by the decision (

Image: Adam Gerrard/Daily Mirror)

Falklands war hero Simon Weston today criticized the EU for calling the islands 'Islas Malvinas'.

A diplomatic row erupted after Brussels agreed to a statement with Argentina that used the Spanish name for the South Atlantic archipelago. Buenos Aires called the move a "diplomatic triumph".

The wording came from a joint statement between the EU and Celac, a bloc of 33 Latin American countries. The text read: "With regard to the issue of sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands, the European Union has taken note of Celac's historic position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful resolution of disputes."

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero warned, "Based on this statement, the Argentine government hopes to further expand the dialogue with the EU regarding the issue of the Malvinas Islands."

The RFA Sir Galahad on fire at Bluff Cove (

Picture:

press association)

Britain and Argentina waged a 10-week war over the islands in the spring of 1982. Some 255 British servicemen were killed retaking the archipelago.

Former Welsh Guard Mr Weston, who was badly burned when the RFA troop carrier Sir Galahad was bombed by Argentinian Skyhawk fighters during the Bluff Cove airstrikes, told the Mirror: 'It's very disappointing for the islanders - they have every right to live their lives in peace, quietly pursuing their own industry every day. Argentina has been working on this for a long time, building a cabal of nations in South America.'

The EU was then forced to clarify its position, which it said had not changed. But Mr Weston accused Brussels of 'buying off' Buenos Aires' quest to overthrow British sovereignty over the islands. Argentines "now have a greater impetus to move forward, to try to restore these false claims they have for the islands," he warned.

He added: "Is this a kick in the shins for Britain over Brexit? It happened, move on."

The British government strongly opposes the use of the name Las...