MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil’s Lula da Silva blasts US Security Council and Britain

What are the reasons for England to be in the Malvinas?

Brazilian president Lula da Silva condemned on Tuesday the United Nations Organization (UN) and its Security Council for not recognizing Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.

Lula da Silva was making a speech at the Unity Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean, which ended Tuesday. “Our attitude is one of solidarity with Argentina,” said the Brazilian president adding the question: “What is the geographical, political and economic explanation for England to be in the Malvinas?”

“What is the explanation for the United Nations never having that decision? It is not possible that Argentina is not the owner while England is, despite being 14,000 km away.”

For the Brazilian leader the reason this happens is the fact that Britain is a permanent member of the Security Council. He used the occasion to once again call for the admission of more members to the council, increasing its representativeness. Brazil wants to be one of the new members.

“Is it possible that Britain can do everything and while others can do nothing?” Lula da Silva went on. “We need to start pushing so that the UN Secretary reopens this debate.”

UN Security Council members respect international rulings “only when they are functional to their own interests”, he emphasized.

The 33 presidents present in Cancun, including Lula da Silva,

signed a document supporting the Argentine position, recognizing Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands and condemning the current oil drilling round by British companies.

Argentina has upped the pressure on the UK in the dispute over the South Atlantic islands by decreeing that all maritime navigation in Argentine territorial waters, or between Argentina and the Islands, must receive prior authorization.

This occurs just as Desire Petroleum begun to drill for oil in the north Falkland basin. The decree is expected to make any such exploration activities and logistics more expensive and difficult.