Italian lawmakers support “a more relevant role” for Argentina in the Malvinas dispute

Tuesday, May 15th 2012 - 08:16 UTC

Full article 109 comments

The proposal supported by 48 out of 945 members was sponsored by Malvinas war veteran Ricardo Merlo

Forty-eight Italian senators and lawmakers expressed their public support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands in a letter sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the Argentine Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

A copy of the letter was delivered to Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman by Italian lawmaker Ricardo Merlo.

The letter allegedly reflects “the will of a group of lawmakers who, despite belonging to different political parties, unanimously share the need to acknowledge that the Argentine Government’s has a more relevant role in the Malvinas Islands conflict.”

The Italian lawmakers praised Ban Ki-moon’s willingness to act as mediator in the conflict, something that has already been requested by several countries and international organizations.

However, they also warned that “they await, sceptical but hopeful, to see how the UK will react to the proposal and if, as Argentina has already done, the country will accept the UN’s mediation on the matter or will continue going its own way without paying attention to the calls for dialogue.”

Lawmaker Ricardo Merlo, born in Argentina and a Malvinas War veteran, also signs the letter since he represents those Italians living in South America in the Roman Parliament.

The Italian parliament has 945 members, of which 630 in the Lower House and 315 in the Senate.

Categories: Politics, Argentina, Falkland Islands, International.

Tags: Argentina, Ban Ki-moon, Falklands / Malvinas, Hector Timerman, Ricardo Merlo.

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Usurping Pirate
The Italian senate has 315 members , so 48 is hardly a quorum. Anyway , what's it got to do with them ?
May 15th, 2012 - 08:29 am 0
mickey5hins
Foreign Minister Tinman received bunga bunga party invitation.
May 15th, 2012 - 08:44 am 0
Teaboy2
Notice he was born in argentina, makes one wonder how many of those 48 were born there too. Also i bet the Italian president is not going to be happy that law makers are acting as foreign ministers on foreign matters, especially when the UK condems this act, which is a clear breah of the EU treaty. Can only see Italy distancing itself from these lawmakers and them being in hot water back in italy for their unofficial actions and declaration.
May 15th, 2012 - 09:13 am 0

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