MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mujica: sorry HMS Gloucester, but our priority is good relations with Argentina

The Uruguayan president and an uncomfortable neighbour

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica told his cabinet that he had contacted the British ambassador to tell him why the Royal Navy HMS Gloucester bound for the Falkland Islands had been authorized to call in Montevideo and a few hours before arriving had clearance withdrawn.

On Monday, Mercopress based on its own sources reported that the ‘sequence of events” involving the South Atlantic patrol incident differed from those described by the Uruguayan Ministry of Defence spokesman who said that denying the Type 42 destroyer access to Montevideo was “business as usual”.

Mujica said he called British ambassador Patrick Mullee and the Foreign Affairs ministry (which gave the green light for HMS Gloucester) to explain the government’s decision which is above all the “priority” his government assigns to relations with Argentina plus the fact that the Malvinas issue “is very delicate”.

Anyhow, according to official sources, Mujica said that “this does not imply a concession to nobody, but rather to value the state of relations with Argentina and, --he emphasized-- we can’t take risks”.

The Uruguayan president added he was “quite surprised” how the news “had filtered”.

According to Mercopress sources in Uruguay, Falkland Islands and UK Defence, the request for HMS Gloucester, bound for the Falklands and sailing from Rio do Janeiro (where it had spent time), to call in Montevideo for supplies and fuel, was done well in advance of last week.

HMS Gloucester was due to visit Montevideo 15th-17th this month, and on the 14th she was cruising slowly towards the River Plate ready to arrive early am 15th when they received the word that due to ‘expected’ pressure from Argentina the call had been cancelled by Uruguay.

In the Falkland Islands, where HMS Gloucester arrived last week, the local radio station reported that the British military spokesperson at MPA has confirmed the news and “they are obviously disappointed with this last minute decision from the Uruguayan government, but respect their right to make it”.

The military spokesperson added that the British government has a longstanding close defence relationship with Uruguay and “this incident will not affect those good links”.

“The decision is seen as a solidarity gesture towards the Argentine government with which Uruguay is trying to improve relations”.

Mercopress also has reliable information that President Mujica contacts with the British ambassador actually took place last week in the midst of the incident (Sept. 14/15) when he personally turned up at the embassy.

On Tuesday President Mujica in his daily broadcast reaffirmed the importance of Argentina for Uruguay from a geographic, economic and social point of view.

“It’s simple and we must not forget, we live on this side of the River Plate and on the other side is Argentina and countries do not move. We must build our strategy and our future where we are, surrounded by whom we know, and the rest is speculation and has little to do with reality that hurts and bites”, said Mujica.

The Uruguayan president also pointed out the economic and tourist significance of Argentina for Uruguay, and the privileged logistic location of Uruguay with its rivers, water courses and navigable canals.

“These are issues we must make transparent and negotiate”, because they are “a mandate constructed by history but imposed by geography and have to do with our relation with Argentina”.

Mujica also mentioned what he described as a vital energy agreement for Uruguay’s future (almost ready to be signed) which is sharing a floating re-gasification plant with the River Plate neighbour and for which “we need an excellent diplomatic relation with Argentina”.

The president called on Uruguayans to remember the long Fray Bentos (pulp mills) conflict (dating back to 2006) which “we managed to overcome with diplomacy and with a constructive spirit, defending our national interests”.

Finally he said 400.000 Uruguayans live in Argentina, and Buenos Aires is the second largest Uruguayan city in the world.

“These Uruguayans are not foreigners, they feel they belong. It’s the only country (Argentina) in the world where this happens with us. This miracle should make us think”, concluded the Uruguayan president.