MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian president tells Argentine congress of its solidarity with the Malvinas issue

Humala addressing Congress in Buenos Aires (Photo: Telam)

Peruvian president Ollanta Humala expressed solidarity with Argentina in the Malvinas Islands issue and said that “the problems of the region are common problems” for all countries.

Addressing the Argentine congress on Tuesday afternoon the Peruvian leader insisted that “in Latinamerica we are building a region of peace where we understand that the true enemies are inequality, poverty and corruption”, and then emphasized “we must continue united and nothing should divide us”.

Further on he added that “Peru and Argentina have a common history which signals the road to follow” and expressed his utmost respect for General Jose de San Martin who fought for the independence of the two countries.

Humala’s visit to Buenos Aires is part of a confidence building process from Argentina given the strained relations dating back to the mid nineties.

At the time Argentina made secret deliveries to Ecuador of arms and ordnance for its clashes with Peru over an ongoing border dispute, which in its previous chapter had Argentina as one of the four guarantors of the peace agreement.

The revelation was particularly painful for the Peruvians who not only felt betrayed but because during the Falklands conflict in 1982 then President Fernando Belaúnde had an active role in promoting a truce involving the UN, but also supplied Argentina with aircraft, missiles, arms, intelligence on Chile and even offered pilots.

Precisely a week before Humala’s visit the Argentine Air Force awarded the Peruvian Air Force the Merit to the Flag Medal to acknowledge all the support extended to Argentina during the Malvinas conflict.

The ceremony took place at the Argentine embassy in Lima with ample media coverage. The medal is awarded to those persons or institutions that go beyond the line of duty or basic international courtesy rules in promoting brotherly mutually beneficial relations.

“The Peruvian Air Force provided the ‘Malvinas Geste’ unconditional support through the delivery of means which were sent at the time despite the barriers of distance and hostile times”, were some of the official words at the ceremony attended by Peruvian Defence mi Peruvian president Ollanta Humala expressed solidarity with Argentina in the Falklands/Malvinas issue and said that “the problems of the region are common problems” for all countries.

Addressing the Argentine congress on Tuesday afternoon the Peruvian leader insisted that “in Latinamerica we are building a region of peace where we understand that the true enemies are inequality, poverty and corruption”, who then emphasized “we must continue united and nothing should divide us”.

Further on he added that “Peru and Argentina have a common history which signals the road to follow” and expressed his utmost respect for General Jose de San Martin who fought for the independence of the two countries.

Humala’s visit to Buenos Aires is part of a confidence building effort from Argentina given the strained relations dating back to the mid nineties.

At the time Argentina made secret deliveries to Ecuador of arms and ordnance for its clashes with Peru over an ongoing border dispute, which in its previous chapter had Argentina as one of the four guarantors of the peace agreement.

The revelation was particularly painful for the Peruvians since during the Falklands conflict in 1982 then President Fernando Belaúnde had an active role in promoting a truce but also supplied Argentina with aircraft, missiles and arms and even offered pilots.

Precisely a week before Humala’s visit the Argentine Air Force awarded the Peruvian Air Force the Merit to the Flag Medal to acknowledge all the support extended to Argentina during the Malvinas conflict.

The ceremony took place at the Argentine embassy in Lima with ample media coverage. The medal is awarded to those persons or institutions that go beyond the line of duty or basic international courtesy rules.

“The Peruvian Air Force provided the ‘Malvinas Geste’ unconditional support through the delivery of means delivered at the time despite the barriers of distance and hostile times”, were some of the official words at the ceremony attended by Peruvian Defence minister Pedro Cateriano and the top brass of the two air forces.