MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina, “a hostile, incomprehensible neighbour”

Argentina's current policy towards the Falkland Islands is “incomprehensible” and the only thing it will achieve is to “set the clock back in Argentine/UK relations”, elected Falklands' Councillor Mike Summers is quoted in Sunday's edition of the Buenos Aires “Perfil” publication.

"Argentina is a hostile neighbour" and the phantom of an Argentine second military invasion of the Islands is ever present and for that reason the idea of an independent Falkland Islands is ruled out.

"The Falklands couldn't possibly defend themselves if they were invaded by Argentina", highlights Councillor Summers.

Under the title of "Kelpers are alarmed with the K (irchner) advance", the article also quotes Peronist member of Congress Jorge Argüello who denies there's a new strategy towards the Malvinas issue, "there's a new emphasis on the standing national strategy: our central objective is getting hold of Malvinas sovereignty".

Mr. Argüello who is also president of the Lower House International Affairs Committee and chairman of the recently created "Malvinas Observatory" admits that Argentina is concerned about the situation of the Islanders "but we don't acknowledge them as a third party. Our struggle is with the United Kingdom".

Argüello says the British Crown bases its claim on the principle of peoples' self determination, "so it's the settlers of Malvinas who decide on sovereignty".

But "we sustain the non applicability of such a principle because the Islands population was transplanted. Only 30% were born in the Islands and that principle (self determination) only applies to aboriginal populations. We sustain the principle of territorial integrity", argued the Argentine Congress member.

However Councillor Summers recalls that under the administration of former President Carlos Menem, Argentina talked to the Islanders through their Foreign Affairs minister (Guido Di Tella).

"This government doesn't, and this is a clear difference. From a political point of view it's a far stronger stance", points out Councillor Summers who emphasizes that the only thing this policy will achieve is to set the clock back in Argentina/UK relations".

Perfil also reveals that next September a delegation of British MPs are scheduled to visit Buenos Aires, in the framework of a bilateral relation "when the debate will light up".

The Malvinas conflict will be a crucial discussion of the lawmakers meeting, forecasts the article. The Sunday Perfil piece is repeated in Clarin's Monday edition.