MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina condemns the UK for its ‘bullying patriotism’ in the Malvinas dispute

The release also regrets the arrival of Prince William in a ‘conqueror’s uniform’ and not with the wisdom of a statesman

Argentina condemned the announcement of the arrival of state of the art HMS Dauntless, a British warship, to the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and urged the UK to “avoid falling in the temptation of engaging in discourse that transforms patriotism in bullying patriotism.”

“The Argentine Republic rejects the British attempt to militarize a conflict that the UN has already said must be solved through bilateral negotiations between both nations,” a statement released by the Foreign Ministry read.

“Governments should try to avoid falling in the temptation to engage in discourse that transforms patriotism in bullying patriotism in order to distract public attention from policies of economic adjustment in the midst of a structural crisis and high unemployment,” it assured.

The Argentine release also regrets the fact that Prince William will be arriving in the Malvinas, (Argentine territory) as a member of the armed forces of his country dressing the uniform of “conqueror and not with the wisdom of a statesman that works for peace and dialogue among nations”.

One of the UK Royal Navy’s most powerful new warships, HMS Dauntless, is to be sent to patrol the South Atlantic including the Falkland Islands next end of March in coincidence with the beginning of the South Atlantic conflict, 2 April 1982, when Argentine marines landed in the Islands. Seventy four days later the Argentine military signed unconditional surrounded to a Task Force.

The British Ministry of Defence has said the deployment was long planned to replace frigate HMS Montrose and not a riposte to increased tensions over the sovereignty of the islands.

“The Royal Navy has had a continuous presence in the South Atlantic for many years. The deployment of HMS  Dauntless  to the South Atlantic has been long planned, it is entirely routine and replaces another ship on patrol,” UK's Royal Navy Senior Press Office Simon Smith stressed.

In addition to the deployment of HMS Dauntless, Jeremy Browne, the British Foreign Office minister responsible for relations with Latin America and Overseas Territories announced he will visit the islands in June.

“I’m going to coincide with the conclusion of the Falklands conflict. I will be going in June for the 30th anniversary,” he said.

“I hope Argentines will see it for what it is, which is a recognition of the valour and sacrifice of British soldiers and the Islanders in the liberation of the islands 30 years ago and also a wider commemoration of the sacrifice made more generally, including by Argentines, he said.