MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

La Nación praises Argentine-British relations.

Buenos Aires daily La Nación praised in its Wednesday main editorial the Falklands speech of Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael Bielsa last Monday before the United Nations Decolonization Committee and simultaneously highlighted the traditional friendship of Argentina with Britain.

La Nación begins pointing out that Mr. Bielsa in proper manner, confirmed Argentina's traditional diplomatic stance in the issue, demanding the resumption of negotiations for a definitive and peaceful solution of the centenary dispute; making it plain clear that discussions can only take place between the two parties involved in the conflict as well as Argentina's commitment to respect the Islanders way of life, plus the friendly attitude towards the Falklands Councillors present at C 24.

However the Argentine Minister also wisely underscores that when Argentina becomes a reliable, constant and attractive country, "we will be responsibly contributing to the definitive solution of the controversy with Great Britain".

Twenty two years after the South Atlantic conflict, the historic Malvinas dispute remains and Argentines have contradictory emotions: on the one side the permanent homage to those who fought for the Islands and particularly those who never returned; but at the same time signalling the gross strategic error represented by the attempt to recover the Islands by force and the enormous damage inflicted to Argentina and its real national interest.

Not only the loss of human lives and exasperating hours of suffering and frustration, but also for too long Argentina was watched with sombre mistrust in political and economic international forums. Rationality, equilibrium, lucid thinking are required for the genuine defence of the national interest, underlines La Nación.

However the Malvinas issue and "the known differences regarding the exploitation of marine resources in the adjoining waters", should not cast a shadow over the many other important issues that necessarily figure in the agenda of British Argentine relations.

"The historic link of economic complementation and cultural and geopolitical coincidences that have united the two nations remains alive, even when international strategic conditions have been substantially transformed".

"The coming visit of President Nestor Kirchner to London, scheduled for July 13, will surely offer an adequate opportunity to update that agenda and reinvigorate the traditional Argentine-British friendship, so many times tested and always recovered, one way or another, in its spiritual richness and in its material fortitude", concludes La Nación, possibly Buenos Aires newspaper with best sources in the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry.