MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina promises to pay pending debts to Malvinas veterans

The Argentine government announced Friday the appropriation of 500 million pesos (approximately 167 million US dollars) to cancel pending social security debts (1996/2002) with the Malvinas war veterans.

The announcement was done from Casa Rosada (Government House) by President Nestor Kirchner who also reaffirmed Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands praising the efforts of "those who went to Malvinas to deliver their utmost, but asked for nothing in exchange". "From a moral and institutional point of view our debt is eternal", added Kirchner who criticized the "ingratitude" to which the Malvinas veterans have been exposed. The document signed basically admits the existence of a social security debt, extending from June 1996 to August 2002, extensive to the pensions of 14.000 veterans and totaling an estimated 500 million pesos. "It was shameful that after working hours Malvinas veterans should be submitted to undignified, annoying paper work, queues and red tape to collect what legitimately belongs to them", said Kirchner. Sergio Massa head of the Social Security administration said that payments will begin next week with each veteran receiving besides the normal pension, between 8 and 10.000 US dollars cash of the consolidated debt, plus an additional in bonds which is to be distributed further on. This will help "to recognize, to value and give the consideration they deserve to all those who went to Malvinas", said Kirchner who underlined he will continue to work with soul and heart on the sovereignty issue. "Day after day we're building the victory which tomorrow will award us the strategic advantage to achieve the recovery, in peace, of the islas Malvinas"-