MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Malvinas: first time Latam groups at UN work together in support of Argentina’s claim

C-24 president Ambassador Morejón Pazmiño, with Ban Ki Moon

Regional groups from South America for the first time are working together on the Malvinas question at the United Nations in support of Argentina’s claims, said the Peruvian delegate on Tuesday, something which he described as “very positive”.

On Tuesday morning Argentine Foreign minister Hector Timerman met with the head of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, C-24, Ecuadorian ambassador Diego Morejón Pazmiño to address the dispute with the UK over the sovereignty of Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

Authorities from Latin American and Caribbean organizations UNASUR (Union of South American Nations), CELAC (Community of Latinamerican and Caribbean States) and MERCOSUR also took part in the New York meeting.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Perú and pro tempore president of the UNASUR bloc José Baraún Araníbar said the gathering “was very positive, since the officials had the opportunity to give their opinions and natural support to Argentina’s legitimate rights” over the South Atlantic islands.

The Peruvian official also stressed the significance of regional groups working together on Malvinas’ question for the first time at the UN Decolonization Committee, thus responding to a sign of “support” to Argentine rights.

“It is simply to reiterate South American states’ will to support not only Argentina’s rights but also to (reach) negotiations and settle the dispute” Baraún Araníbar was quoted by the Argentine media.

Timerman later shared lunch with the representatives of the Decolonization Committee permanent members whom he thanked for their sustained support to Argentina’s stance against the UK every year, calling on London to sit at the negotiating table and reach a peaceful and definitive way out to a conflict that has lasted for 180 years.

The group which accompanied Timmerman and Baraún Aranibar to meet C24 head also included Uruguay’s Luis Almagro and Cuba’s Bruno Rodriguez in representation of Mercosur and Celac respectively.