MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ dispute: Argentina seeks “diplomatic, peaceful dialogue” with UK

Argentine Foreign Affairs secretary Jorge Taiana

Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said Argentina “seeks to have a diplomatic, peaceful dialogue” with Great Britain, and asked for London to join in discussions regarding the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty to “finally end this anachronistic colonial situation.”

Taiana, currently in the Mayan Riviera, in Mexico, provided the press with these statements while setting the agenda for the next Presidential Summit along with other foreign ministers. The two day event is scheduled to start next Monday, when 33 heads of state from Latinamerica and the Caribbean arrive in the region.

“The United Kingdom is a member of the Security Council, and as such, it has to comply with the current UN resolutions ratifying the existence of an on-going dispute between both countries and urges them to meet every year to discuss the Malvinas Islands sovereignty and their surroundings,” he explained.

The United Nations also keeps in place a resolution urging both parts to “refrain from aggravating the controversy”, which the Foreign Ministry says “Great Britain has not respected once more, after illegitimately authorizing the approval of private projects to explore the disputed region in search of hydrocarbons.”

Taiana, and President Cristina Kirchner scheduled to arrive Sunday evening, will be trying to rally regional support for Argentina’s stand on the Islands oil exploration round set to begin almost simultaneously with the arrival to the Falklands of the oil rig “Ocean Guardian”

From Mexico Taiana will be flying to New York to meet with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to present Argentina’s case and demand the beginning of sovereignty talks over the Falklands with Great Britain.

On Friday British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London he was “confident” diplomacy could resolve a standoff with Argentina on the Falklands.
“The diplomacy between us and Argentina is one that I think will be successful,” Brown said, insisting that Britain was acting within international law. “I think the work that's being done will avoid any tension”.