LONDON (AP) — The Falkland Islands government said Tuesday it plans a referendum next year on the political future of the tiny south Atlantic archipelago, seeking to end Argentina’s claims of sovereignty and to secure its status as a British territory.

Gavin Short, chairman of the Falklands’ legislature, made the announcement ahead of Thursday’s 30th anniversary of the end of the brief 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over the islands, which saw more than 900 people die.