Referring to the overwhelming vote in last weekend’s referendum by islanders to remain British, Mr Cameron added: “That is a message to everyone in the world that the people have chosen very clearly the future they want. That choice should be respected by everyone.”
And with a joking reference to the signal from the Sistine Chapel that a new Pope has been elected, he added: “The white smoke over the Falklands was pretty clear.”
But Miss Castro denounced that comment. “He may have thought his remark to be amusing, but it is disrespectful to compare a poll among the 1,513 British inhabitants of the islands – a publicity stunt that has no legal effect – with the election of the head of the Catholic Church that gathers together 1.2 billion people in the entire world,” she said in a statement issued by the embassy on Saturday.
The ambassador reiterated long-standing Argentine demands for negotiations on sovereignty of the islands, claiming support of “the rest of the world” for that position.
Britain insists that it is for the islanders to determine their status and hence there can be no talks about sovereignty unless the residents want them.
Mrs Kirchner is attempting to enlist the Pope in the dispute, despite her previous clashes with him. In a thinly veiled reference to the islands, she suggested that he could call for mediation.
The attacks on his record as leader of Argentina’s Jesuits during the 1976-1983 military junta were often spearheaded by close Kirchner allies.
She in turn was furious about his scathing criticism of her social policies, including introducing same-sex marriage and providing free contraception.
He described gay marriage as “a plan to destroy God’s plan”. Mrs Kirchner, responded that his remarks were “reminiscent of the times of the Inquisition”.
On Friday, the Vatican denied accusations that Pope Francis failed to protect anti-regime priests during the so-called “dirty war” under the dictatorship.
Speaking of the claims of complicity, Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said that “the accusations were made long ago by anti-clerical left-wing elements to attack the church”.
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