MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil recognizes Argentine sovereignty over South Georgia and South Sandwich islands

Ambassador Alberto D’Alotto, head of the Foreign Affairs Desk

Brazil has always recognized Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands but was reluctant to include South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands however that is over, according to a top official from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Ambassador Alberto D’Alotto, head of the Foreign Affairs Desk made the statement during a conference last week on “National Policy and Defence” at the Argentine Ministry of Defence which convened Argentine strategists from different fields including science, technology, communications, satellite industry besides foreign affairs and defence.

The commanders of the three forces and aides were also present at the conference, and video links were established with Army (Buenos Aires province), Navy (Puerto Belgrano) and Air Force (Cordoba) auditoriums.

D’Alotto pointed out that Brazil is Argentina’s main partner in Mercosur and “during many years Brazil’s Foreign Affairs ministry did not recognize our sovereignty over the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, but did so regarding the Malvinas. Currently during a recent meeting in San Juan province (Mercosur latest presidential summit, August 2010), President Lula da Silva recognized before President Cristina Fernandez Argentine sovereignty over those islands”.

He added that “relations with Great Britain are normal but are affected because they insist in ignoring our claim over the Malvinas islands”.

Regarding links with the United States, D’Alotto said Argentina would like closer relations in fighting narco-trafficking and terrorism, “but in spite of our concern the agenda of President Obama is concentrated on other tasks”.

D’Alotto talked about links with Venezuela and the close relations of President Cristina Fernandez with her peer Hugo Chavez, however “this does not mean that we share the philosophy and model implemented by Chavez, we coincide in some points”.

Finally he said it was not possible to think of Argentina “outside Unasur (Union of South American Nations) or the United Nations. We must look for peace, stability and progress in the region helping to build an integrated, fair and democratic country”.

The meeting ended with a conference from the Scientific and Technical Research National Council, Conicit, which has 150 stations distributed through out Argentina and with a staff that has increased from 8.500 to 17.000 in seven years. This includes 1.000 Argentine scientists that have returned from overseas helping to increase “productivity by 13% in the last four years”.

Argentina’s investment in science and technology research “is one of the most efficient in the world and of the lowest cost. We’re working intensely to attract more young brains to scientific activities, so that we achieve a satisfactory level not only for Argentina, but internationally”.