MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' lawmakers reject Argentine “sovereignty document” scam
MLA Short said that the ”the gentleman himself has never, to my knowledge, approached the Falkland Islands Government directly about the document.” 
MLA Short noted that Mr. Di Bernardo was, “part of Ricardo Gomez Kenney’s ‘Falklands reconciliation group’, or whatever they call themselves An Argentine antique dealer who offered to sell a copy of an old document that he claimed would destroy the Argentine historical case for sovereignty over the Falklands, has been turned down. According to this week's Penguin News edition, the Secretary of the group Asociación Civil de Amigos Malvinas/Falklands (ACAMF) Gabriel Di Bernardo made contact with the Islands in October last year.
He offered to sell the Falklands Government what he claimed to be a copy of an important ancient document from Argentina’s Congressional archives for 2.5 million Euros, cash.
Mr. Di Bernardo, who is also an antique dealer, said he was acting in his private capacity and not as Secretary of ACAMF. Mr. Di Bernardo asked for the cash in 500 Euro notes to be delivered to a location in Rosario.
Penguin News asked Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gavin Short if the Falklands government had been approached about the document.
He said that he and others were aware of the claim by Mr. Di Bernardo regarding the document, “that he claims to have found… and the rather startling amount that he wanted for it.”
MLA short said: “We have not formally ever held a meeting about this issue but have spoken to each other and are of the opinion that we will not be parting with tax payer’s money on something that we have not seen, nor know the authenticity of, nor know whether it’s legally the gentleman’s property to sell.
“The gentleman himself has never, to my knowledge, approached the Falkland Islands Government directly about the document.”
MLA Short continued: “There is plenty of evidence already available that destroys the credibility of the Argentine claim,” and yet they still persisted.
His opinion was even if the document made it clear the claim was “hogwash,” the Argentine government would in any case dismiss it. He noted that Mr. Di Bernardo was, “part of Ricardo Gomez Kenney’s ‘Falklands reconciliation group’ or whatever they call themselves who say that they want to examine all evidence no matter whether it helps or hinders the Argentine claim, yet here we have one member of that group, saying that he has a document which will help us and is not prepared to make it available to either us or the Argentines without a huge amount of money changing hands…”
He added: “It makes you wonder whether the gentleman should be part of such a group and indeed I know the group is aware of his activities and are not doing anything to try and make the document publicly available which also brings their credentials and credibility into question.”
He concluded saying: “If we had a few spare millions I would rather spend it (after a new power station) on buying and on-selling what remains of the FIC and not on something we have neither seen nor been contacted directly” (Penguin News).
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Read all commentsWhat you are not normally good with is 'history' Voice.
Mar 17th, 2017 - 11:31 pm +6Forgot to deal with a question from Think with regards to evidence. I understand that there is correspondence and that Clarin has seen those exchanges. As it happens the seller is a member of the Falklands Facebook news page. When I challenged & referred to the price, he said he could add another nought. His grasp of reality appears slight.
It is of little consequence. Argentina is already a busted flush on the issue of the Falklands. Particularly as we approach the anniversary of the UN's abandonment of any interest. 29 years with no UN GA resolution. Will this be the last year? Time will tell.
Why is no-one surprised to see the kind of crap Voice presents and Shrinkbrain welcomes?
Mar 17th, 2017 - 09:57 pm +5It's an distorted version of an out-of-context remark made of he Duke of Wellington in response to the Colonial Secretary, Sir George Murray's letter of 23 July 1829. 8 August 1829, Lord Aberdeen sent instructions to Parish to inform the Government in Buenos Aires that the British claim should not be treated with indifference.
From the real world:
1. President Bartolomé Mitre's message at the opening of the Argentine Congress on 1 May 1865: “there was nothing to prevent the consolidation of friendly relations between this country and those governments [France and Britain].” “... no ha habido sino motivos para consolidar las relaciones amistosas que existen entre éste y aquellos gobiernos.”
2. Vice-president Marcos Paz's opening speach to the Argentine Congress on 1 May 1866: “... damages suffered by English subjects in 1845. This question, which is the only one between us and the British nation, has not yet been settled.”. “Este mismo gobierno [= el gobierno británico] aceptó por árbitro al Presidente de la República de Chile, sobre perjuicios sufridos por súbditos ingleses en 1845. Aun no se ha resuelto esta cuestión que es la única que con aquella nación subsiste.”
3. President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's Message to the Argentine Congress on 1 May 1869: “The state of our foreign relations fulfils the aspirations of the country. Nothing is claimed from us by other nations; we have nothing to ask of them except that they will persevere in manifesting their sympathies ...” “Nada nos reclaman las otras Naciónes: nada tenemos que pedir de ellas, sino es la continuación de las manifestaciones de simpatía ...”
Voice still thinks that Wellington's letter is damning. How strange. It merely refers to the 1771 accord and the status quo with Spain in the east and Britain in the west. Spain & Britain. Argentina was told to go do one.
Mar 17th, 2017 - 11:05 pm +5Still, Voice does like to hang on to his illusions.
:-)))
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