Argentina's January 3rd. statement on the Falkland Islands dispute claiming sovereignty and calling for dialogue with the United Kingdom has received a low key but strong response from the Foreign Office, according to the Mail on line.
Federico Lorenz, considered one of Argentina's foremost experts on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands issue and author of multiple works on their history, will take the reins as the interim director of the Malvinas Islands Museum in the latest in a far-reaching shuffle of key cultural positions in President Mauricio Macri’s new administration.
President Mauricio Macri's government reaffirmed on Sunday, 3 January, Argentina's sovereignty rights over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands on the 183 anniversary of the 'British occupation of the archipelago' in the South Atlantic, and called for dialogue with the United Kingdom. In a statement published in the Foreign Ministry site it said that “Argentina renews its commitment to the peaceful solution of controversies, to international law to and multilateralism”.
Mercosur full and associate members ended their Paraguay summit signing six joint statements, one of which in support of Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and rejecting 'non authorized' hydrocarbons exploration in the Argentine continental shelf. This is the first regional document related to the Falkland Islands Argentine claim since Mauricio Macri took office last 10 December.
The United Nations was “royally deceived”, said Falkland Islands Member of Legislative Assembly Mike Summers in response to Argentina celebrating the 50th anniversary of a UN resolution that recognised the existence of a sovereignty dispute over the Falklands.
Aerolínas Argentinas magazine “Alta” has committed an 'un-excusable' blooper in its English edition. In effect, in a long article from the November edition, and praising Argentina's aeronautic and space industry, available in all Aerolíneas flights the Islas Malvinas are referred to as the Falkland Islands.
In a Christmas message to Falkland Islanders, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is hopeful that the election of a new Argentine president “will allow us to move towards a more mature relationship”.
Argentina's Foreign ministry recalled that on 16 December the country commemorates the 50th anniversary of UN General Assembly Resolution 2065, the first referred to the question of the Malvinas Islands.
HMS Lancaster, a type 23 Frigate is in Gibraltar for a few days to top up on fuel and supplies and allow its crew some rest and recuperation. HMS Lancaster recently completed a 9-month deployment to the South Atlantic where she conducted Atlantic Patrol Tasking, and made over 23 port visits in 18 countries.
Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra said on Tuesday the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty conflict “can't be sidestepped because it's a historic and central issue” for Argentina, although this “does not impede” acknowledging that relations between the two countries “have a lot of other areas in which we have to work”.