MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FCO: no surprises in EU constitution

In a brief release the United Kingdom Embassy in Brazil pointed out Wednesday that references to the Falkland Islands as a British Overseas Territory in the European Constitution are expressed in identical terms to those in European Union treaties since Britain joined in 1971.

The UK Embassy in Brazil release followed discussions during the first Summit of South American and Arab leaders taking place in Brasilia and which included a reference to the Falklands in the final declaration.

President Kirchner's administration has been expressing growing irritation about the inclusion in a European Constitution Annex of the Falklands and other insular territories over which Argentina has sovereignty claims.

The United Kingdom position regarding sovereignty over the Falkland Islands "is well known", underlines the release.

Working on a proposal from Argentina and sponsored by Brazil the 34 Arab and South American countries agreed on a declaration calling on Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations with the objective of reaching in the shortest time possible, "a fair, peaceful and lasting solution to the Falklands' sovereignty controversy" which in 1982 triggered a war.

Apparently the original version was far stronger demanding an explicit support for Argentine sovereignty but several countries, particularly Arabs, didn't want to upset important European partners and allies, according to Buenos Aires press reports.

However Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa in recent statements has soothed the tone of the argument in spite of the irritation.

Mr. Bielsa pointed out that the Argentine "austral territories" are included in an Annex of the European Constitution under the title of "Non European Territories of member states", which specifically refers to territories with pending disputes, such as Gibraltar.

Furthermore the inclusion is with the purpose of "ensuring economic prosperity and the development" of these countries and overseas territories.

"In no case is rights mentioned, but rather sustained interest, which in diplomatic terms refers to situations under dispute".

Finally the EU Constitution has been approved so far by a few small countries and faces great resistance in major countries such as France and the United Kingdom which will be the last member in holding a referendum on the issue.