MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner will lead main Falklands' war commemorations

Argentine Memorial in Ushuaia

President Nestor Kirchner will reaffirm Argentine “legitimate and imprescriptible” sovereignty over the Falkland Islands next April 2 in Ushuaia when he leads the main commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Argentina's 1982 military landing in the Islands, reports the Buenos Aires press.

A representative from Malvinas (war) Veterans and President Kirchner will be the only speakers at the event to be held next to the Monument to the Fallen. The Argentine press points out that President Kirchner will emphasize that the claimed Islands will be recovered through peaceful means and according to International Law as enshrined in Argentina's 1994 constitution. He will also insist that the United Kingdom resume negotiations over the Falklands' sovereignty as indicated in successive United Nations resolutions and from the Organization of American States, OAS. On April 2, 1982, the Argentine military Junta executed a long prepared plan which began with the capture of the capital Stanley by a group of marines who were later followed by a massive display of men and equipment in Falklands' territory. The Argentine military Junta adventure was defeated and ousted 74 days later by a British Task Force with the loss of almost a thousand lives and hundreds wounded. Argentina was plunged into political chaos and 18 months later a freely elected democratic government took office in Buenos Aires putting an end to seven years of brutal military rule. April 2 has been renamed Malvinas' Veterans and Fallen in combat Day. British embassy sources in Buenos Aires said that they trust Argentine 25th anniversary commemorations to be "adequate and respectful" such as the planned British remembrance. "Both the United Kingdom and Argentina suffered heavy losses in the conflict. Events in the United Kingdom and in the Islands in June have been designed to commemorate the conflict in an adequate and respectful way, recognizing losses on both sides", said a UK Embassy spokesperson, "we imagine the commemoration in Argentina will be in the same way". The Argentine press also reports that President Kirchner is also expected to be present in two other significant commemorations in the first week of May. One of them is to be held in the high seas onboard the icebreaker Almirante Irizar recalling the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano torpedoed by the nuclear submersible HMS Conqueror (May 2, 1982) and which represented the highest single loss of Argentine lives during the conflict. On May first President Kirchner is scheduled to head the Argentine Air Force "baptism of fire" commemoration to be held in Buenos Aires domestic airport, Aeroparque. A third possible act is scheduled with the Argentine Army for June 10, which recalls when on that date in 1829 Argentina created the Malvinas political and military command and named Luis Vernet as governor of the Islands. A special committee headed by Defense Minister Nilda Garré with the commanders in chief of the three services has been planning the organization of the 25th anniversary commemorations since last December, according to Buenos Aires press.