MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' recovery: “Diplomacy and peaceful means”

Argentina's Defence minister Nilda Garré said Monday that the recovery of the Falklands/Malvinas will be through diplomacy and peaceful means.

Leading commemorations on the 24th anniversary of Argentina' Air Force "baptism of fire", May 1, 1982, in the port of San Julian, province of Santa Cruz, Ms Garre inaugurated the "Plaza of the Heroes" with an authentic decommissioned "Mirage Dagger" in take off position pointing to the Falklands and a plaque with the names of Air Force personnel killed in the 1982 conflict.

San Julian is from where the first Argentine fighter bombers aircrafts took off to bomb the Task Force and experience dog fights with British aircrafts.

Ms Garré said the ceremony had been long overdue and she also had supportive words for the Malvinas combatants "who were never given or acknowledged the place they deserve".

"They are the only ones who from those sad days, we have an emotive remembrance", underlined the minister.

As to the current situation of the Falklands, Ms Garré referred to President Nestor Kirchner's April 2 speech when he said "the recovery of the Islands will be done through diplomacy and peaceful means".

Ms Garré was accompanied in the ceremony by Santa Cruz Deputy Governor Carlos Sancho, the head of the Argentine Air Force General Eduardo Augusto Schaffino and the top command of the service.

During the unveiling ceremony Mirage fighter aircrafts over flew San Julian together with Hercules C 130 simulating air fuel support.

The Mirage Dagger in the plaza and with full camouflage colours carries the number C-421 and the name of three Royal Navy vessels sunk by the Argentine Air Force on May, 1, 21 and 24.

According to Argentine Air Force records on that first day of action 57 sorties were completed in "support missions and attacks on British naval targets".