MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina forecasts Malvinas “full sovereignty”, quiet soon

Argentine Defence Minister Jose Pampuro said that before than expected Argentina “will be in condition to recover the Malvinas”, or improve its position, adding that the United Kingdom has “enormous problems in sustaining” the Islands

Interviewed in Santa Cruz province by news agency DyN, Mr. Pampuro refused to talk about a timetable but insisted that "quite soon Argentina will have the chance to visit the Islands, and gradually, establish a position enabling sovereignty, not full sovereignty at the start, but in a very short period full sovereignty".

Mr. Pampuro reiterated Argentina's annoyance with the inclusion of the Falklands and other South Atlantic insular territories in the European Union constitutional agreement, but ratified Argentina's intention to continue along the "diplomatic path".

"The incorporation (of the Falklands) as territory belonging to Europe is an abuse, unfortunately we're used to this in our country, but we must be patient", admitted the minister.

However Mr. Pampuro said that things will begin improving along the way, "little by little, since England has enormous problems, even economic, in sustaining the Islands". "We're on the right track, I'm optimistic and I think that before than expected Argentina will be in condition to recover the Islands, or better position itself (before the issue)".

Regarding more specific defence issues Mr. Pampuro said that the role of the Argentine Armed Forces will be reformulated having them more involved in "scientific and technological development", adding that with that specific purpose the Defence budget will be doubled.

"The Armed Forces will have to develop, working from regional integration, a scientific and technological role which they had from their very beginnings but was eliminated with the wrong government policies".

Mr. Pampuro emphasized that the Argentine Armed Forces will keep to their main reason of existence which is national defence, although underlining the reformulation process since there are no longer "conflict hypothesis".

"I'm going to double Defence's budget next year, I've spoken about it with President Kirchner and we agreed that the scientific side is the one needing more funding", said the minister who also highlighted Argentina's commitments to world peace helping with troops in hot spots such as Haiti and Cyprus.

Mr. Pampuro was interviewed during the inauguration of an ozone tracking station in Rio Gallegos.