MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina reiterates Falklands' claim to Kofi Annan

During a meeting Monday with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Argentina reiterated its claim over the Falkland Islands and called for sovereignty negotiations with the United Kingdom.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Taiana was in New York to preside over a Security Council debate requesting further international aid for Haiti and on Monday afternoon held a private meeting with Mr. Annan.

According to the Argentine minister Mr. Annan replied that "he observes positively the UN support for Argentina's request to begin negotiations with the United Kingdom regarding Argentine sovereignty of the Islas Malvinas".

Argentine holds the chair of the Security Council during March and sponsored the debate on Haiti.

Mr. Annan, Haiti's elected president René Préval, UN Representative for Haiti Juan Gabriel Valdes and delegates from Brazil, Guyana, Bahamas, Greece, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, Chile plus US Deputy Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon were present during the debate.

Mr. Taiana called upon the Security Council "not to repeat the mistakes of the past", in the new beginning for Haiti and stressed that "job creation and basic social services are two vital issues which must be addressed by the new Haiti administration".

The Argentine minister said Mr. Annan highlighted the Argentine initiative to sponsor a debate on Haiti in such an important moment for the political process of Haiti and thanked Argentina for "the constructive role displayed during the recent UN reform negotiations particularly the creation of a UN Human Rights Council.