MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS calls on Argentina/UK to find peaceful way to solve Malvinas sovereignty dispute

The resolution underlines Argentina’s “constructive approach towards the inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands”.

The Organization of American States general assembly, meeting in Tiquipaya, Bolivia, passed a resolution urging the Argentine and British governments to find a peaceful way to solve the Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute.

On the last day of session the organization urged both nations “to retake negotiations in order to soon find a peaceful way to solve the Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute” that caused a war between London and Buenos Aires in 1982.

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman invited the British representative in the OAS assembly to immediately engage in dialogue in order to find a definitive solution to the conflict.

“I would like to offer Great Britain the opportunity to meet in a room. The OAS secretary general can be present. I want to negotiate with Great Britain. I want to find a peaceful solution to this colonial conflict,” he said during the fourth session of the meeting.

Timerman regretted that London chose to ignore the 39 resolutions passed by the UN urging both nations to solve the bilateral conflict.

Before the final approval of the draft resolution several Foreign ministers read aloud similar statements in support of Argentina from Unasur, Mercosur and Celac calling for diplomatic negotiations on the Malvinas issue.

However Canada pointed out that it is for the Falkland Islands people to decide on their future adding that it did not agree with some chapters of the OAS resolution.

Likewise and as had been anticipated the US delegation adopted a neutral stance but also accepted the call for a peaceful solution to the bilateral dispute.

The draft resolution was presented to the general assembly by Brazil’s Deputy Secretary for International Policy, Vera Machado, and was approved by acclamation on request from the Uruguayan delegation.

The resolution reads as follows:

Considering its repeated statements that the Question of the Malvinas Islands is a matter of enduring hemispheric concern;

Recalling its resolution AG/RES. 928 (XVIII-O/88), adopted by consensus on November 19, 1988, in which it requested the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations in order to find, as soon as possible, a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute;

Bearing in mind that in its resolution AG/RES. 1049 (XX-O/90), it expressed satisfaction over the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries;

Recognizing that the accreditation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, under CP/RES. 655 (1041/95), as a permanent observer of the OAS reflects principles and values shared by that country and OAS member states, which facilitate greater mutual understanding;

Noting with satisfaction that the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland maintain important political, cultural and trade ties, share common values and are also engaged in close cooperation both bilaterally and in international fora;

Bearing in mind that, despite those ties and shared values, it has not yet been possible to resume the negotiations between the two countries with a view to solving the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, Georgia del Sur y Sandwich del Sur Islands and the surrounding maritime areas in the framework of resolutions 2065 (XX), 3160 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12, 39/6, 40/21, 41/40, 42/19 and 43/25 of the United Nations General Assembly, the decisions adopted by the same body on the same question in the Special Committee on Decolonization, and the reiterated resolutions and declarations adopted at this General Assembly; and

Having heard the presentation by the head of delegation of the Argentine Republic,

Welcomes the reaffirmation of the will of the Argentine Government to continue exploring all possible avenues towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute and its constructive approach towards the inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands.

Reaffirms the need for the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume, as soon as possible, negotiations on the sovereignty dispute, in order to find a peaceful solution to this protracted controversy.

Decides to continue to examine the Question of the Falkland Islands at its subsequent sessions until a definitive settlement has been reached thereon.