MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duhalde vindicates Malvinas claim in low-keyed address to Malvinas veterans.

President Eduardo Duhalde told thousands of South Atlantic War veterans meeting in the southern city of Ushuaia that “Argentina will recover the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands - not with war - but with work, effort and perseverance through diplomatic means.”

Speaking at the main national ceremony to mark the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of the South Atlantic War Duhalde warmly remembered the events of two decades back and the courage of those who fought and gave their lives to uphold the sovereign rights of Argentina. But he added that, in line with the 1994 Constitution, Argentina would only seek to do so through diplomatic means.

Flanked by the Governor of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Carlos Manfredotti; the president of the Veterans Centre of Ushuaia, Dante Asili and the President of the Veterans Federation, Hector Beiroa; Duhalde spoke of the "immense honour" he felt to be able to meet the veterans of "the last national heroic deed".

Speaking to a crowd of several thousand veterans, many dressed in military style jackets, berets and wearing their campaign medals, Duhalde remembered the war dead and stated that the sovereignty of the disputed islands would continue to be pursued by diplomatic means.

Looking back at the events of twenty years back Duhalde recalled that in those troubled times when "boys had become men" in places with names which have stuck in our minds "Goose Green, Mount Kent, Longdon and Tumbledown." He added that he was aware that many veterans had returned to the mainland with "injuries to their bodies and minds".

Duhalde spoke of Argentina's "debt" to its war veterans and that at a time when this country is in crisis, with serious doubts about the future, "not all is lost if we remember the heroic deeds of the war veterans."

After ending a warmly applauded speech with a "Long live the fatherland" Duhalde joined in the signing of the Malvinas Hymn headed by tenor Dario Volonte.

Before leaving the ceremony Duhalde warmly shook hands and embraced the leaders of the veterans associations from around the country and watched a march past by veterans carrying flags representing the veterans the associations of each province.

The ceremony began at 10.30 am with the arrival of the head of state at the Malvinas Islands Square on the waterfront followed by the arrival of several hundred veterans carrying a massive argentine flag. Once the authorities were in place the ceremony opened with the singing of the nation