MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

ALADI concerned with Falklands EU inclusion

The inclusion of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands in the European Union constitutional treaty is of “great concern” to the Latin American Integration Association, ALADI.

In an official release Thursday the twelve member organization seated in Montevideo points out that the EU attitude "ignores the existence of a sovereignty dispute recognized by the United Nations and the Organization of American States", between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Resolution 291 referring to Argentine austral insular territories was unanimously approved by ALADI members, extending a "forceful support to the legitimate rights of Argentina over those islands", added the Argentine delegation.

The resolution also calls on both sides to find a quick solution to the long standing dispute.

ALADI's Secretary General is Uruguay's former Foreign Affairs minister Didier Opertti and the twelve country members, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The Argentine government claims that the South Atlantic islands currently under British sovereignty, have been included in the Annex II, Title IV, Part III of the EU Constitutional Treaty which was signed October 29, 2004.