MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands: Argentina formally request Hillary Clinton US mediation

The two ladies at Casa Rosada: smiles and promises

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner formally requested visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the United States act as intermediate in the Argentine-United Kingdom Falkland Islands dispute.

“I have requested the intermediation role for the United States before the United Kingdom so that we can sit to discuss about the Malvinas Islands, contemplating the interests of the Islands inhabitants”, said Mrs. Kirchner at a press conference Monday night following a meeting with Hillary Clinton in Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires.

“We agree; we stand ready to help resolve the issue. We would like to see Argentina and the UK sitting round a table discussing the matter. If we can be of any help in facilitating such an effort, we stand ready to do so” said Clinton.

But the Secretary of State also pointed out that the US position is that “this is a matter to be resolved between the United Kingdom and Argentina. We can’t force sides to sit” but dialogue “is the correct way to proceed”.

The latest chapter of the longstanding Falklands’ dispute between Argentina and UK was triggered by a round of exploratory oil drilling in Falklands’ water that begun last week and which Buenos Aires strongly objects.

Clinton's offer of help came on the first full day of a Latinamerica tour. Until mid afternoon the Secretary of State was in Montevideo for the inauguration of President Jose Mujica and to meet with outgoing leader Tabare Vazquez, who proved in his five years to be a staunch ally of Washington. From Argentina Clinton will be flying to quake-hit Chile, Brazil, and then Costa Rica and Guatemala in Central America.

Clinton, speaking to reporters on her plane bound for Argentina from Uruguay, said she did not see the United States in a mediating role, but rather as simply encouraging dialogue.

“We're not interested in and have no real role in determining what they decide between the two of them. But we want them talking and we want them trying to resolve the outstanding issues between them,” she said.
“We recognise that there are contentious matters that have to be resolved and we hope that they will do so.”

Cristina Kirchner had anticipated she would welcome mediation from the United States as a country friendly to both states. She said all that her country was asking was for talks. “I don't think that's too much” Mrs. Kirchner said.

Another issue which was on the table was Honduras, with Argentina and the US in differing positions.

“We had an exchange of ideas regarding differences we have over the Honduras issue”, said Hillary Clinton. The US supports the newly elected government while Argentina insists that the ousting of Manuel Zelaya can’t remain unpunished and that elections were held under a de facto government, and thus should not be legitimized.

Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana, cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez, Secretary of the presidency Oscar Parrilli, Interior minister Florencio Randazzo and Economy minister Amado Boudou were also present at the meeting.

On the US side, US ambassador Vilma Martínez; Thomas Kelly political councillor of the embassy; Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary for Hemisphere affairs; US permanent ambassador before OAS, Carmen Lomellin; head of Latinamerican Affairs at the National Security Council Luis Rosello and other State Department officials.