MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Malvinas and the South American Union” conference

A two days conference on the Falkland Islands conflict and sovereignty dispute to be opened and closed by Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa will be held this week in Buenos Aires, sponsored among others by the Malvinas Families committee.

Two other ministers besides Mr. Bielsa, Defence Secretary Jose Pampuro and Education Secretary Daniel Filmus will be participating in the seminar "Malvinas in the South American Union: a strategic view" which begins next Thursday and is also sponsored by the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry, National University of Lanus and the Malvinas Institute.

"The armed conflict, current tensions and threats in the South Atlantic" is the first module in the agenda beginning Thursday and will have as participants Minister Pampuro and General Roberto Bendini Army Chief of Staff.

In the afternoon academics and legal experts will address the sinking of the General Belgrano cruiser, "War crime or military action?"

Friday morning the diplomatic side of the conflict since 1989 will be addressed by officials from the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry. Friday afternoon Minister Filmus will lecture on "The Malvinas issue and the education system" together with the Dean from Lanus University Ana Jaramillo, followed by the Argentine film "Crazy for the flag", a co production from the Argentine Film Institute and the Malvinas Families Commission.

Minister Bielsa will sum up the event in the closing ceremony to which have been specially invited the ambassadors from Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.