MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina to survey seabed from “North Malvinas to Georgia”

Argentina will begin in April, to the north of the “Malvinas islands all the way to South Georgia”, the last leg of its seabed survey to comply with the United Nations Law of the Sea May 2009 timetable, reports the Buenos Aires Saturday press.

The Argentine Navy oceanographic vessel "Puerto Deseado" has been commissioned for the research task, --which includes "litigation areas"--, so that Argentina can collect sufficient scientific and technical data on the sea bed to make the official presentation before United Nations which would enable her to have its continental platform border and rights extended from 200 to 350 miles. According to the Buenos Aires press Argentine government vessels normally avoid that area so as not to generate incidents. However there was an exception to the "non written rule" in 2006 when the Navy's icebreaker "Almirante Irizar" crossed the area and caused a diplomatic incident between Buenos Aires and London. Apparently and according to Buenos Aires press reports last September when it was revealed that Britain was involved in a similar task, Foreign Affairs Secretary Jorge Taiana decided to speed Argentina's surveying of the area (under dispute with the UK) so as to make the presentation before the UN on time. Buenos Aires press reports that last year Argentina and the UK ceased all conversations on the issue, even when Britain offered to address the technical surveys jointly. A proposition never replied to. The effort in the "Malvinas-South Georgia" area admit Argentine sources will be short of time and possibly is the last chance because after collecting all the necessary data it must all be processed and prepared for the presentation in a year's time. Argentina delay is linked to the country's 2001/02 meltdown of the economy and lack of funds. "Puerto Deseado" belongs to Argentina's naval Hydrographic Service and has been refurbished with modern equipment for sea bed surveying including a deep water bathymetric system and a Hypack processor. Apparently the vessel is capable of surveying up to 5.000 meters depth. According to Defence Minister Nilda Garré Argentina could add exclusive economic rights to an additional one million square kilometers of continental platform if it can supply sufficient evidence to extend its rights from 200 to 350 miles of the sea bed. The funds for the current operation were partly supplied by the United Nations Development Program and involve over six million US dollars.