Aland Islands: lessons for the conflict of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas Islands)?

Previously, Finland had approved the Autonomy Law of the Aland Islands, which gave it an advantageous position for discussion within the League of Nations [50]. Following that resolution, Finland extended the guarantees provided to the inhabitants of the Aland Islands through the Guarantees Act of 1922, which were improved with the laws of 1952 and 1991 [52].

b) Regulatory framework of autonomy

The 1991 law regulates the relations between the Finnish State and the islands, the conflict between them, economic relations and the recognition of a regional citizenship. This law can only be reformed if it is approved by the Finnish parliament and the assembly of the islands by a special two-thirds majority. This legislation recognizes the right of the Islands to constitute an Assembly that has the power to establish its regulations and legislate on the flag and the coat of arms, the municipal administration, taxes, security, construction and urban planning, leases of land, protection of the environment, cultural and historical protection, medical and health service, education, culture, sports and youth work, museums, forests, hunting and fishing, mail, roads, commerce and any other faculty that does not correspond to the Finnish State [52].

The latter is responsible for legislating on: civil liberties, freedom of movement and expression, international relations, defense, civil law, commercial law, criminal law -- with exceptions, -- labor law, judicial codes and paper money. Finland can not bind the Aland Islands internationally if they do not agree. Otherwise, Finland has to reject the agreement or make a reservation about the particular situation of the islands. The laws approved by the Assembly are put to the consideration of the Alandic Delegation and, subsequently, of the Ministry of Justice. It is up to the latter to analyze if the Assembly has not exceeded the powers granted by the Autonomy Law. Then, the projects are referred to the president, who can veto them if the Assembly exceeded its powers or if they cover issues of defense or internal security. To be able to do the latter, the Supreme Court must first be consulted, although its opinion is not binding [52].

The demilitarization and neutralization of the territory does not fall within the competence of the Assembly. After the reform of the Autonomy Law of 1991, the Aland Islands have considerable autonomy in tax matters. However, it can only be established taxes at the municipal level. The Finnish government establishes national taxes, as in the rest of the provinces. The State returns part of these revenues to the Aland Islands according to a compensation index. Finally, the Aland Islands do not have international powers. However, like Greenland and the Faroe Islands of Denmark, they are represented in the Nordic Council. When Finland joined the European Union, the Aland Islands requested exceptions to EU legislation, which were accepted. The Finnish Parliament and the Assembly can transfer competences mutually. The Aland Islands have a representative in the Finnish parliament. Any difference is resolved by the Supreme Court of Finland [52].

The Governor of the Islands is appointed by Finland with the agreement of the Assembly and can issue decrees on the organization of government and administration. If the regulations issued by the Finnish Government affect the Aland Islands in any way, the Assembly should be consulted. For its part, it can present initiatives in the Finnish Parliament through the Executive Branch [52].

Only people who have the right of neighborhood, have property and trade or a profession, can vote in the elections of the islands. To qualify for this right, they must be a citizen of Finland, reside in the Aland Islands for at least five years and speak the swedish language. Although Finnish and Swedish are official languages in Finland and therefore both are taught in schools. In the Aland Islands only Swedish is the official language and is the only language taught in a population where 95 % is swedish-speaking [52].

Final Reflections

The Falklands Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands with the South Atlantic and the Antarctic form a geopolitical systemic construct. For this reason, we must understand the strategic implications of this geopolitical space for the interests of that country to understand the position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with respect to the Islands.

It is clear that British interests in the region do not relate to the wishes of the islanders. The main issue in this conflict is the licensing of exploration and exploitation of natural resources, from fishing and oil, to the extraction of rare earths and the obtaining of patents on biological diversity for pharmaceutical and other subsurface resources maritime [53]. Also, the control of the South Atlantic and the Antarctic are essential for the United Kingdom.

Considering these factors, and taking into account that the Antarctic Treaty is an agreement that covers the entire world, the Argentine strategy of turning the Malvinas question into a South American and global issue has been successful. In the near future, by its very nature, the Madrid Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty will have to be renegotiated and that country could even include the problem of the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands within its agenda.

Although the strategic situation of the Aland Islands and the Malvinas are comparable, the actors in dispute are not: Sweden vs. Finland and Argentina vs. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, in the context of the crisis unleashed by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, there are some lessons that can be drawn from the conflict in the Aland Islands.

Firstly, Argentina must continue to strengthen diplomatic action through the regionalization of the conflict, emphasizing how the presence of an extraregional power affects the strategic resources of the entire region. In addition, this country should reinforce its physical presence strengthening the infrastructure in Patagonia and especially in Tierra del Fuego as a gateway to the Antarctic (for example, to move forward with the establishment of a Logistic Pole in Ushuaia), qualitatively increase the presence in that continent (for example, creating a Logistics Center in Marambio or Petrel Establishments) and in the South Atlantic. The Argentine National Defense system should also contribute by adapting its deployment to this vision, changing the center of gravity towards the south, which will become increasingly relevant as the 21^st century passes, reopening -- among other measures -- the Air Brigade in the city of Rio Gallegos. In this last suggestion, the defense system will keep strategic attitude until United Kingdom and Argentina sign an agreement. island kingdom autonomy falkland

Secondly, Argentina undertook to respect the interests of the islanders. For this, the argentine federal's organization has much more to offer to the islanders than the category of “overseas territory”, especially taking into account that in the context of the Brexit they would lose access to the European Union market. In this sense, the Autonomous Province of the Malvinas Islands could be created, which includes the Malvinas Islands, Georgia and Sandwiches del Sur, with a differentiated status to that of the Argentine provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, in order to respect its customs, its education system, its language and even the management of its natural resources (prerogatives of the federal system of Argentina). In this sense, the measures adopted by the Argentine government in the 1970s, regarding the granting of scholarships or health services to the inhabitants of the islands, could be reimplemented. Additionally, the demilitarization and neutralization of the islands in perpetuity can be agreed with the United Kingdom from the treaty within two countries will be signed.

To implement what is indicated above, based on the provisions of Article 2 of Law No. 23,775 of May 10, 1990, partially amended by Law No. 26,552 of December 11, 2009, the National Congress of the Republic Argentina must enact a Law of Autonomy of the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands that provides, without being exhaustive, the following provisions:

• Recognize the Malvinas as a nation within the Argentine State, following the model of Quebec in Canada and that of the Aland Islands.

• Accept the toponymy islanders on the islands.

• Establish the English language as the official language of the Malvinas, Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.

• Choose a parliament that has powers similar to those of the provinces in terms of primary and secondary education, health, security, local tax, criminal law and criminal procedure (following the Anglo-Saxon tradition), the creation of a judicial power and a penitentiary system.

• Grant the islanders the right to exploit rights over natural resources in their territory.

• Choose a governor. Both this election and that of parliamentarians would be governed by local laws, as long as they respect the democratic and republican form of government.

• Cede the defense, international relations and federal justice to the Argentine Republic.

• Choose two senators and three deputies for the National Congress.

• Grant the right, once the treaty was signed and the islands incorporated into the Argentine State, elected the local legislature and the governor, to propose modifications to that Autonomy Law that must be endorsed by the National Congress.

• It will be e Treaty between Argentina and United Kingdon where will be ratified the previous points and established: 1. The Islanders could be opted to independence 50 years after the treaty or in case that coup d'etat overthrow the democratic regime, and, 2. Both Argentina and the United Kingdom will reserve that the signature of this Treaty does not imply any waiver of the sovereign claims that both countries have over Antarctica, and they mutually recognize the right to use the projection of the islands as one of the arguments to legitimize their rights on that continent.

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