France Sticky note prevents scandal over world map in Paris
A sticky note had to be stuck on a world map in the French National Assembly during the hearing of the Argentinian ambassador out of anger over the depiction of the Falkland Islands.
22.01.2026, 13:58
SDA
At the beginning of his questioning, Ambassador Ian Sielecki told the Foreign Affairs Committee that he unfortunately had to point out a major problem. "I have just realized that I am sitting in front of a map that shows the Falkland Islands as part of Great Britain."
This is also a legal problem, said Sielecki, who was directly in front of the section of the map showing the archipelago in the South Atlantic. "As a representative of the Argentinian state, I cannot speak freely in front of this map. That would legitimize a situation that is a violation, an attack on the sovereignty of my country, on the honour itself of the Argentine nation."
Committee chairman Bruno Fuchs began by pointing out that the islands on the map were placed in brackets. It was therefore clear that this was a disputed area. But the Argentinian added: "It's like asking the ambassador of Ukraine to speak in front of a map that shows Luhansk or Crimea as a legitimate part of Russia." He asked whether it was somehow possible to cover the map during his hearing. When the suggestion came from the room to use a post-it note, the ambassador replied: "It would be very good if you could do that."
After this solution had been proposed, Sielecki began his thematic remarks. A few minutes later, a member of parliament placed the sticky note on the world map and covered the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands have been under British administration since 1833. Argentina attacked the islands in 1982. After several defeats for the Argentinian armed forces, both sides signed a ceasefire. Argentina continues to lay claim to the archipelago, which it calls the Islas Malvinas. In 2013, the inhabitants of the islands voted by a large majority to remain part of Great Britain.
