MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner reiterates sovereignty claims.

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner reiterated this week his administration's strong commitment to recovering the full sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands and adjoining maritime spaces, calling on the United Kingdom to resume negotiations leading to a peaceful solution of the dispute.

During his address March 1 to the General Assembly marking the inauguration of the 123 Congressional Legislature, President Kirchner insisted on reaching with the support of the international community, a peaceful, fair and long lasting solution to the South Atlantic dispute, taking into account the constitutional provision of respecting the way of life of the Islands inhabitants.

"This is a permanent state policy and responds to a collective desire of the people of our motherland", added Mr. Kirchner.

Earlier on in his hour long speech the Argentine president said that his administration had began to honour its debt with those men who had offered their lives for the country.

Mr. Kirchner underlined that "with the significant increase in pensions, Malvinas war veterans have begun to feel that a thankful and solidarity country is taking care of them after years of ungrateful neglect".

The veterans' census will help "to know them, who they are, what they need" and then apply specific policies for the sector, "a clear response in fair compensation for all they offered". "A nation with memory, faithful to its history, can stand up and take the path of the future, in democracy and freedom, with the opportunity of becoming a better nation".

Further on Mr. Kirchner mentioned that the Argentine Ministry of Defence with the help from United Nations is involved in the project "National Defence in the democratic agenda", an open debate involving the whole Argentine society.

He also pointed out that Argentina's foreign policy is identified with multilateralism, peace, respect for the self determination of peoples and military presence in several parts of the world in peace operations under the mandate of United Nations.

Among Argentine foreign policy achievements, besides growing international credibility, he mentioned Argentina presiding over the UN Security Council; hosting the Americas summit this year under the theme, "Creating jobs to confront poverty and strengthen democratic governance" plus having received in Buenos Aires during 2004 the greatest number of presidents in any recent period.

Finally Mercosur strengthening, expansion and deepening continues as a top priority of Argentina's foreign agenda, leading to the creation of the South American Community.

"Regionalism is the instrument for powering our possibilities"; however Latinamerican integration won't be easy and won't be reached instantly, "but it's in the interest of our countries to achieve it".