Argentina and Brazil agreed to work on a common defence agenda underlining the importance of strengthening Unasur and working to ensure that Latin America is a peace zone thus sending a strong message to the UK on the Falklands/Malvinas issue.
Malvinas conflict next-of-kin commission sent a letter to the International Red Cross expressing their position regarding the request from President Cristina Fernandez for that organization to help with the identification of soldiers’ remains buried in the Falkland Islands Argentine cemetery.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Minister a front bench spokesperson from the Labour Party and a representative from the Conservative Party will be among VIP guests at the June Falkland Islands 30th commemorations.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández left the 6th Summit of the Americas held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, before the official closing meeting allegedly in protest against a lack of regional support for Argentina’s claims in the Falklands/Malvinas dispute with the UK.
Retired Royal Marine Brigadier Ian Gardiner, who commanded a Marine company in the 1982 Falklands war, thinks a new Argentine attack on the Islands is unlikely.
Argentines give more importance than the British to the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty issue, according to the first public opinion on the matter done simultaneously in both countries involved.
The coming 6th Summit of the Americas will not include in its final statement the issue of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, the sovereignty of which is in dispute between Argentina and the UK.
The UK is seeking repayment of a loan granted to Argentina in 1979 which was invested in military procurement some of which was used during the Falkland Islands conflict.
British oil giant BP will not be involved in exploration or production activities in the Falkland Islands, according to the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry which just a few days ago sent threatening letters to oil industry and financial corporations which could be working or assessing in the disputed South Atlantic waters.
The Argentine government said that the Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim is “not political opportunism” or geared “to remove other issues from the country’s political agenda” and is coherent with the political and ideological thinking of both Presidents Cristina Fernandez and her late husband and former president Nestor Kirchner.