MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bielsa opens Malvinas Seminar, rejects charges of electioneering.
Speaking to the press after officially opening a two day seminar on “The Malvinas in the South American Union” at the Foreign Ministry this morning Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa rejected charges that he was blatantly using the Malvinas conflict for electoral purposes.
"It is part of an outstanding debate which Argentine society must go through" he explained.
Bielsa was reacting to several press reports in which the timing of the two day seminar is queried on the grounds that the speakers include three government candidates in the forthcoming elections scheduled for October, as well as the heads of the three Armed Forces.
Bielsa is contesting a seat as national deputy as is his counterpart at the head of the Defence Ministry Jose Pampuro. Bielsa's running mate, Jorge Coscia, who is currently head of the national Film Institute, is also scheduled to address the seminar.
In his inaugural speech Bielsa spoke about the "need to bring the Foreign Ministry closer to the people in this, the only outstanding national cause which is part of our national constitution."
Addressing an auditorium which included diplomats - including representatives of the local British Embassy - government officials, veterans and next-of-kin of servicemen killed in the 1982 conflict, as well as students and journalists, Bielsa spoke of the need to ensure that "the debate on this national cause is deepened" so as to achieve the "full recovery of our national territory" through peaceful negotiations with the United Kingdom as was the case from "1966 to 1982".
"It does not matter if it takes four years, forty years or four hundred years, we will recovery the full sovereignty of these territories" he added in response to a question from the press.
Asked whether he was concerned over British reactions to the timing of this seminar at a time when bilateral relations between both countries are at "an all time low" according to one former British Ambassador, Bielsa said "I could not care less what the British think. This is about what the Argentine people feel."
The two day seminar - jointly organized by several departments of the Foreign Ministry, the Next-of-Kin Commission, the Malvinas Institute and the University of Lanus - will be looking into the 1982 conflict from different perspectives including the historic background, security in the South Atlantic, international law, culture, education and communications.
Arguably the most controversial topic is likely to be a debate on the sinking of the Argentine Navy cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the 1982 war. The debate on "The sinking of the Cruiser General Belgrano: War crime or casualty of war?" is to be coordinated by former human rights secretary, Alicia Pierini; diplomat Maria Teresa Moya Dominguez and Deputy Federico Storani.
Others speakers at the opening ceremony included Deputy Defense Minister Jaime Larreta, While Helmets coordinator G. Fuchs, journalist and Malvinas Institute president Enrique Oliva, the dean of the University of Lanus, Ana Jaramillo and the president of the Next of Kin Committee, Hector Cisneros.
Nicholas Tozer - Buenos Aires
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