Great Britain won't go to euro and won't give the Falkland Islands

Great Britain always had the special position. After all it is known that it has no constant friends, but there are constant interests long ago … But all the same, many people are interested in the question: why Great Britain doesn't wish to go to euro? And recently again started talking about the Falkland Islands, though 30 years passed after the armed conflict with Argentina …

The former ambassador of Great Britain in Georgia and nowadays the deputy ambassador of the United Kingdom in Russia Denis Kif gave the answers to these questions:

- Our voters were against the euro accepting. There was a discussion in the 90th years and at the beginning of the 2000th, but then it became obvious that nobody wants it. And it didn't occur …

On the other hand, about 50 % of our trade are the share of the European zone countries. They have the value for us as exporters, trading partners, our allies. These are the countries with which we cooperate, probably, for already one thousand years … That is, their destiny and prosperity are important for us! But, if you ask a question of euro to the British, he will tell: it doesn't concern us. It is rather convenient for him, if he goes to the continent, that it isn’t necessary to take many different currencies: euro will be enough and it is a big advantage!

But, unfortunately, that crisis which concerns the European zone becomes more and more serious; it strongly influences us, because there is an uncertainty and it stops the economic development. That is it directly affects the British economy. The markets are very important for us; if nobody sells and doesn't buy, it influences us. Our economy, our markets are an important source of prosperity therefore such instability of the financial markets can affect us.

We belong to political community of Western Europe, and therefore, economic problems which they have, unfortunately, have consequences which affect us. Simply speaking, we want that the countries in the European zone prospered and found the solution of the problems and that they were the strong countries in the economic sense. Our analysis says that they should follow the logic of euro further, build political and financial mechanisms in order to provide the efficiency of the financial structures which they build.

We in Great Britain always were the pragmatists in this regard! It concerns also the political projects with the European Union: we conduct them and realize step by step if we see any advantage for ourselves. But if we don’t like something in any project, we simply don't pay attention to it. We didn't join neither Schengen nor the European zone – we have own reasons in this respect. It would be necessary for the European countries which accept euro to waive any principles in the political sense that we didn't want to do …

As for the Falkland Islands … Of course, we had the huge empire and now it isn't present more. It became the result of historical process and all this was inevitable. It was quite difficult process … The population of the Falkland Islands didn't want to be a part of Argentina and Argentina argues that its opinion has no value. The Falkland Islands declared that want to hold a referendum – they want to express the opinion, want to be heard. And they have the right to it!

We passed the different stages in the relations with Argentina and we still have many disagreements concerning the Falkland Islands. But it is inevitable, when such situation takes place. They pressed us that we would go to negotiations on the sovereignty, but, it seems to me that there is a sense to speak about the practical cooperation. It is represented to us that the policy of the today's government of Argentina, they try to intimidate the Falkland Islands, is doomed to failure. The political atmosphere is strained now and it is heated by the government of Argentina.