Falklandskrigen

Maritime Exclusion Zone

12. april 1982 erklærer Storbritannien søfart op til 200 sømil fra Falklandsøerne for legitime mål.

From 0400 Greenwich Mean Time on Monday April 12, 1982, a maritime exclusion zone will be established around the Falkland Islands. The outer limits of this zone is a circle of 200 nautical mile radius from Latitude 51 degrees 40 minutes South, 59 degrees 30 minutes West, which is approximately the centre of the Falkland Islands. From the time indicated, any Argentine warships and Argentine naval auxiliaries found within this zone will be treated as hostile and are liable to be attacked by British forces. This measure is without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures may be needed in exercise of its right of self defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

23. april 1982 gøres det klart at flådestyrken på vej sydpå også er dækket.

In announcing the establishment of a Maritime Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands, Her Majesty's Government made it clear that this matter was without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures might be needed in exercise of the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. In this connection Her Majesty's Government now wishes to make clear that any approach on the part of Argentine warships, including submarines, naval auxiliaries or military aircraft which could amount to a threat to interfere with the mission of British Forces in South Atlantic will encounter the appropriate response. All Argentine aircraft including civil aircraft engaging in surveillance of these British Forces will be regarded as hostile and are liable to be dealt with accordingly.

From 1100 GMT on April 30, 1982, a Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) will be established around the Falkland Islands. The outer limit of the zone is the same as for the MEZ established on Monday, April 12, 1982; namely a circle of 200 nautical miles radius from Latitude 51 degrees, 40 minutes South, 59 degrees, 30 minutes West. From the time indicated the Exclusion Zone will apply not only to Argentine warships and Argentine naval auxiliaries but also to any other ship, whether naval or merchant vessel, which is operating in support of the illegal occupation of the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces. The Exclusion Zone will also apply to any aircraft, whether military or civil, which is operating in support of the illegal occupation. Any ship and any aircraft, whether military or civil, which is found within this Zone without due authority from the Ministry of Defence in London will be regarded as operating in support of the illegal occupation and will therefore be regarded as hostile and will be liable to be attacked by British Forces. Also from the time indicated, Port Stanley airport will be closed; and any aircraft on the ground in the Falkland Islands will be regarded as present in support of the illegal occupation and accordingly is liable to attack. These measures are without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures may be needed in exercise of its rights of self-defence, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Note via the Swiss embassy in Buenos Aires April 29 1982.

In announcing the establishment of a total exclusion zone around the Falklands HMG made it clear that this measure was without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures may be needed in exercise of its rights to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. In this connection HMG now wishes to make clear that all Argentine vessels, including merchant vessels or fishing vessels, apparently engaging in surveillance of or intelligence gathering activities against British forces in the South Atlantic will be regarded as hostile and are liable to be dealt with accordingly.

April 30 1982 Argentina's answer:

1. That, from today's date, all British ships, including merchant and fishing vessels, operating within the 200-mile zone of the Argentine sea, of the Malvinas Islands, the South Georgias and the South Sandwich Islands, are considered hostile; 2. That, from today's date, any British aircraft, whether military or civil, which flies through Argentine airspace will be considered hostile and treated accordingly; 3. That all measures imposed are without prejudice to any additional measure that may be applied in exercise of the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

May 7 1982 UK extended TEZ:

Her Majesty's Government has consistently made clear that the United Kingdom has the right to take whatever additional measures may be needed in exercise of its inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Her Majesty's Government will take all necessary measures in the South Atlantic in the self-defence of British ships and aircraft engaged in operations and in resupplying and reinforcing British forces in the South Atlantic. Because of the proximity of Argentine bases and the distances that hostile forces can cover undetected, particularly at night and in bad weather, Her Majesty's Government warns that any Argentine warship or military aircraft which is found more than 12 nautical miles from the Argentine coast will be regarded as hostile and are liable to be dealt with accordingly.

UK etablerer en 106 sømil flyveforbudszone omkring Ascension Island d. 10. maj 1982.

As there has been a large increase in the number of air traffic movements at Ascension Island in the last few weeks, it has been decided to introduce an area of controlled airspace, extending from sea level to an unlimited height, within 106 nautical miles radius of Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island. This will have immediate effect and will remain until further notice. The normal rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, as applied by the United Kingdom, governing the operation and control of flights from a busy airfield will be in force. Control of this area of airspace will be exercised by the senior RAF officer on Ascension Island.