MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' oil industry: Mercosur special declaration in support of Argentina's Malvinas dispute

“Aware of the presence of a semi-submersible rig in the Argentine continental shelf involved in hydrocarbons exploration activities non authorized by Argentina...”

The latest Mercosur summit, held last week in Brazil included a special statement, --besides the main regular declaration with 69 articles--, blasting the UK for violating international law and Argentine domestic law over the exploration of hydrocarbons “in the Argentine continental shelf in proximity of the Malvinas Islands”.

 The Special Declaration refers to “the exploration of hydrocarbons in the Argentine continental shelf in proximity of the Malvinas Islands”.

“Aware of the presence of a semi-submersible rig in the Argentine continental shelf involved in hydrocarbons exploration activities non authorized by Argentina, the presidents of Mercosur member states and associate states strongly reject this new unilateral action by the UK in violation of international law and Argentine domestic law”, reads a paragraph from the declaration.

The declaration then goes on to enumerate a list of statements, UN General Assembly resolution 31/49; a special communiqué from a Latin America/Caribbean unity summit from 2010 in Mexico; the Common Market Council 2014 special communiqué, as well as other statements in support of Argentina's sovereignty rights over the disputed Islands from the Group of 77 plus China; Olade, Aladi, all of which recognized Argentina's right to implement administrative and judicial actions against the non authorized hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation activities undertaken by the UK, in the disputed area.

Finally the declaration says that the presidents of Mercosur member countries and associates reaffirm what was expressed in previous declarations, and reiterate their firmest support for Argentina's legitimate rights over the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces, in the sovereignty dispute with the UK, and again ratify their standing interest for the UK to resume negotiations with Argentina, to achieve in the shortest time possible a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute, in conformity with the outlines of the international community plus resolutions and declarations from the UN and the OEA, Organization of American States.