MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

C24 reiterates call for Falklands' sovereignty talks

The United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation, (C24), called on the United Kingdom and Argentina to resume negotiations on the Malvinas/Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute, following Thursday's session in New York.

The resolution presented by Chile together with Cuba and Bolivia was unanimously approved by the C24 and expresses concern over the fact that "the good relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom haven't led yet to the resumption of negotiations over the Islas Malvinas issue". The text also regrets the non resumption of dialogue "in spite of the ample international support for negotiations" expressed in past resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Two Falkland Islands elected Councillors and two Argentine citizens, incorporated to the Argentine delegation, also addressed the special committee as petitioners. Argentina's Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana criticized the UK refusal to resume sovereignty negotiations and admitted Argentina was willing to cooperate in "practical aspects" of the South Atlantic situation. However, on condition that these evolve in the framework of renewed sovereignty negotiations over the Malvinas and South Atlantic islands, and surrounding maritime areas. The United Kingdom did not address the C24 and stood by its position that any negotiations on the issue must first have the approval from the local population of the Falklands in their legitimate right to exercise self determination. But Islanders are most happy and determined to remain under British sovereignty.