MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina plans diplomatic barrage for Falkland's war anniversary

After having rejected Britain's offer for a sober commemoration of the 25 years of the Falkland Islands conflict, Argentina is preparing a diplomatic barrage before international forums demanding UK resumes sovereignty negotiations, according to Buenos Aires Sunday press.

The initiative will be launched personally by President Nestor Kirchner at the main Argentine commemoration April 2 in Ushuaia. Surrounded by Malvinas veterans, by next of kin of those fallen in the war and several ministers Kirchner will insist in the resumption of dialogue with Britain and the decision to recover the Islands through diplomacy and peaceful means as mandated by the country's 1994 Constitution. According to the Argentine press, contrary to UK commemorations, Kirchner will centre his speech on the 174 anniversary of the "usurpation of the Islands" and 42 years since the United Nations resolution 2065 calling on both sides to find a peaceful, fair and lasting solution to the controversy. Kirchner is also expected to publicly sustain why he didn't accept the British invitation for a joint commemoration act of the armed conflict. "The British government wants to remember the 25 years of its military imposition, while Argentina wants to remember the 25 years Britain has systematically denied to discuss sovereignty", which helps to understand why the invitation was rejected, said a close aide of Kirchner, reveals the Argentine press. Apparently the Argentine president will refer to how the lack of dialogue on the "medullar issue" is threatening maritime and hydrocarbons resources in the South Atlantic and also question commercial relations with the Islands. Kirchner's speech will be followed by strong diplomatic presentations before multilateral forums during the next three months. The agenda includes the United Nations Decolonization Committee presentation in June by Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana and an appeal to UN Secretary General; in June also, when regional presidents meet in Paraguay to hand the rotating Mercosur chair to Uruguay for the second half of 2007 and finally at the third annual meeting of Foreign Affairs ministers of the Organization of American States, OAS. President Kirchner is also scheduled to participate in Navy and Air Force commemorations organized by the Ministry of Defense. On May 2 the sinking of the cruiser "General Belgrano" which is planned to take place in the high seas on board the icebreaker "Almirante Irizar" and May first, the baptism of fire of the Argentine Air Force in Buenos Aires domestic airport, Aeroparque.