MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands and 4.7m sq. km. of the South Atlantic, claimed by Argentina

“We are talking of 4.7 million square kilometers of our territory” underlined Filmus. Argentina's land territory is almost 2.8 million square kilometers.

“Argentina has its eyes set on the South Atlantic, and that includes undoubtedly the full recovery of our sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and the adjoining maritime spaces”, said Daniel Filmus head of Argentina's Office on issues relative to the Malvinas Islands.

 In the framework of “Rio Grande dialogues” which are taking place this week in that Tierra del Fuego city, Filmus added that “Argentina conceives the South Atlantic region is all its potential: huge resources in fisheries, hydrocarbons, minerals and bio-diversity”.

To that respect Filmus recalled the recent launching by President Cristina Fernandez of the “Blue Pampa Program” which is a project involving six ministries and has as objective “the sustainable development of the area and preserving the environment”.

“We are talking of 4.7 million square kilometers of our territory” underlined Filmus. Argentina's land territory is almost 2.8 million square kilometers.

The Argentine official went on to say “that is why the presence in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, of representatives from different Latin American and African countries which are part of the South Atlantic Peace Zone is so significant and strategic to address British arms buildup in the Malvinas Islands, where they have mounted a huge military base”.

Filmus said that Argentina, 'together with its good friends' again denounces the presence of the most important military base in the region, “set up by the British in the Malvinas and which threatens the peaceful development strategies of the countries that are part of the South Atlantic”.

Finally, Argentina will continue to work side by side with the majority of nations from the world, “for the resumption of dialogue with the UK because that is the only possible way for the recovery of the full exercise of our sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the adjoining maritime spaces”.