MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK “regrets” Argentine decision to cancel oil cooperation

Malvinas veterans will visit Darwin cemetery

“We regret the Argentine decision” to end the South Atlantic joint hydrocarbons understanding with the United Kingdom; “it sends a political signal in a sensitive year”, said late Tuesday a spokesperson from the British embassy in Buenos Aires.

Earlier in the afternoon Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana following a long meeting with president Nestor Kirchner in Casa Rosada announced the decision claiming British "unilateral" actions such as oil exploration in "disputed" areas "belonging to the Argentine continental platform". The decision comes just days before the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the Falkland Islands war next April 2. "UK wants a full and constructive relationship with Argentina" and within the context of the 25th Anniversary, "we offered a commemorative event in London. We were disappointed that this was refused but we still hope the Argentine Government will reconsider", said a British Embassy source who also confirmed Malvinas war veterans families would be travelling to the Argentine cemetery in the Falklands. "The UK has always been committed to commemorating the conflict in a fitting and respectful manner which respects the fallen on both sides. This week we are announcing that with the agreement of the Falkland Islands Government, several hundred members of families of Argentine soldiers who fell in 1982 will travel to the Islands later this year to hold a special private commemorative event at the Argentine cemetery in Darwin". Explaining the extent of the Argentine decision Taiana said that "the 1995 joint (UK/Argentina) declaration stated that the exploration had to be done in the maritime areas subject to the sovereignty dispute, but the United Kingdom pretended to limit cooperation with our country to an area of 21 square kilometers", said Minister Taiana. "The 1995 declaration had no advantages for Argentina", insisted Taiana. "The Argentine decision puts an end to an instrument by which the United Kingdom pretended to justify its illegitimate and reiterated unilateral actions exploring areas of the Argentine continental platform with the purpose of exploring for resources that belong to the Argentines". However Minister Taiana said that Argentina once again has invited the United Kingdom to "an open dialogue" but "unfortunately the intransigent persistence of the United Kingdom has impeded a franc dialogue". "Argentina is not contrary to cooperation with the United Kingdom, but as long as it contributes to resume the sovereignty dialogue", he underlined. In related news Casa Rosada sources quoted in the Buenos Aires press indicate that next Monday President Kirchner will not be present at Argentina's main commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Falklands/Malvinas war in Ushuaia, as originally anticipated. President Kirchner could be replaced at the ceremony by vice president Daniel Scioli. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the foot of the 1994 monument to the fallen in the Malvinas war in Tierra del Fuego next to the Beagle channel. Malvinas veterans and next of kin usually parade on the occasion.