MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Scioli calls for “sovereignty talks”

Argentine vice-president Daniel Scioli called on the United Kingdom to restablish sovereignty negotiations over the Falkland Islands underlining that the issue for Argentina is “a state policy for which the government toils tirelessly”.

Mr. Scioli was the highest ranking official at the farewell ceremony of the Memorial to the Argentine servicemen killed in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict which this Friday was shipped from the port of Campana and is to be assembled in Darwin.

"The recovery of the full sovereignty rule over the Islands and the adjoining maritime spaces is a project established in the national (Argentine) Constitution", underlined Mr. Scioli.

Further on he described the dispute "to be overcome in the shortest time "We call upon the United Kingdom to respond to international demands and express its willingness to resume sovereignty negotiations as indicated by the United Nations and the Organization of American States", stressed the Argentine vice-president pointing out "we have convictions but no grudges". "This must be achieved in the framework of a peaceful, fair and lasting solution that takes into account the interests of Islanders".

Addressing the relatives of the fallen in the conflict and veterans Mr. Scioli said that "it's our duty not to forget those who fought and most particularly those who lost their lives for the motherland", emphasizing that "a deserving nation is built on the permanent memory of its heroes".

Defence Minister Jose Pampuro and the commanders of the three services were also present at the ceremony.

Mr. Pampuro highlighted that the cenotaph was another way of "honouring the heroes of Malvinas" and of expressing the permanent interest of the Argentine people and nation in the Islands, permanently "attached to our sovereignty over the Islands political will".

The Defence Minister also praised the "good will of the United Kingdom and Argentine governments" in the reestablishment of four direct flights to the Falklands from Argentina in reference to the recent talks between Mr. Bill Rammell and Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa.

According to the Argentine press the resumption of direct links to the Islands from Argentina will coincide with the official inauguration of the Memorial to be assembled in the Argentine cemetery in Darwin.

Apparently Argentine government officials will be travelling for the ceremony with "white cards" such as those used by passengers "in transit". This would help overcome the controversial Falklands government stamping of Argentine official passports.

The mausoleum which was shipped this Friday in the Antigua Barbuda flagged "BBC Japan" is expected to arrive in the Falklands in four to five days and should be assembled and ready for delivery forty days later. However, the final date can't be close to April 2, a very sensitive memory for Islanders because on that day 22 years ago the Argentine forces landed in the Islands.

The cenotaph is made up of twelve cement and marble panels weighing a total of 200 tons where plaques with the names of the 649 Argentine servicemen killed in the conflict, will be engraved.

The Memorial is part of the July 14, 1999 agreement, --signed by former Foreign Minister Guido Di Tella--, which re-established the air link to the Islands from Chile and among other points ended the Islands ban on Argentine passport holders travellers.