MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner: recovering Malvinas is “unrenounceable”

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner emphasized Saturday that the recovery of the Islas Malvinas (Falklands) by means of dialogue, peace and firmness, is an “unrenounceable” claim for the Argentine people.

"The constitutional mandate is today reinforced and I'm confident Malvinas will again be Argentine through dialogue, peace and the firmness of those who never renounce to their ideas or principles", said Mr. Kirchner.

Speaking at the Patricios Infantry Regiment in Buenos Aires during the main commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of the Argentine landing in the Falklands, --April 2 of 1982--, Mr. Kirchner ratified Argentina's "legitimate sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas because they are an integral part of our national territory".

The South Atlantic conflict finally ended with the recovery of the Islands by British Forces in June 14, 1982.

Vicepresident Daniel Scioli, Defence Minister Jose Pampuro, the three commanders of the Armed Forces, military personnel and Malvinas veterans where present at the Patricio Regiment commemoration together with President Kirchner.

"It's important, vital and essential that we remember the heroic struggle to recover our Islands", added the Argentine president.

Actually Malvinas veterans were expecting some additional benefits announcement but Mr. Kirchner simply detailed "concrete actions" taken under his administration among which special compensations, pensions, and social security and health benefits both for them and next of kin of servicemen killed during the 1982 conflict.

However the ceremony was overshadowed and conditioned to the final hours of Pope John Paul II, since Friday evening the Argentine government news agency advanced that the Kirchner administration would declare three days of national mourning with the consequent cancelling of all official activities once the confirmation from the Vatican was announced.

John Paul II had an active part in the final days of the 1982 conflict by visiting Buenos Aires and London in an attempt to stop hostilities.

Furthermore in late 1978, a few months into his papacy, John Paul II managed to stop minutes before tanks began rolling, an armed conflict between Argentina and Chile over disputed islands in the extreme south of the continent.

Vice-president Daniel Scioli called upon the Argentines to unite, more than ever "to remember and honour our war veterans, their families, share with them their pain and grief, honour the fallen and also those alive, because the Government is working hard to improve the situation of the ex combatants".