MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina recalls Malvinas/Falklands 1833 events

Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana reaffirmed Monday in an official release, Argentina's “imprescriptible sovereignty rights over the Malvinas islands” and condemned the ”illegitimate (British) occupation” of the South Atlantic islands.

"Tomorrow (January 3) is the 173 anniversary of the start of the Islas Malvinas illegitimate occupation which persists until our days, and is for this motive that the Argentine People and Government reaffirm once again their imprescriptible sovereignty rights", said the official release from Palacio San Martin.

The text was distributed in all Argentine diplomatic representations round the world.

January 3, 1833 British Forces "usurped the Islands, expulsed the population and Argentine authorities there established, and replaced them by others of British origin" recalls the release.

Even when this 1833 act of force "was immediately protested and never consented" by Argentina, Mr. Taiana underlined that "to our days Argentina has consistently re-vindicated its fair claim both at bilateral and multilateral level".

"The international community supports the justice and firmness of the Argentine claim. Therefore the importance that Argentina gives to the continued action of the United Nations, Organization of American States, Mercosur, among other international and regional forums".

Further on the release points out that in spite of the permanent claims and Argentina's "willingness", United Kingdom "persists in its negative to comply with the obligation of resuming sovereignty negotiations as recognized by the pertinent UN resolutions and other statements from multilateral and regional organizations and forums".

Argentina therefore "calls upon the United Kingdom to resume negotiations, reiterates its willingness to address a renewed dialogue with the United Kingdom and to continue with practical cooperation aspects in the South Atlantic, --under the sovereignty safeguard formula-- and provided it is balanced, mutually beneficial and contributes to a solution to the controversy".(DyN_MP)