MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina creates new Malvinas agency and names former Senator Filmus chief

Filmus 'has been actively involved in the layout of strategies for the peaceful recovery of the Malvinas'

Argentina has created a new government agency under the scope of the Foreign Ministry to address issues related exclusively to the Malvinas Islands, designating former senator Daniel Filmus as its chief. The creation of the secretariat and Filmus’ appointment were published in Friday's edition of the official gazette under decree number 2251/2013.

 This new Secretariat of Affairs relative to the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces will be in charge of implementing foreign policy strategies and actions “for the better defense of the Argentine rights and interests regarding the Malvinas issue,” the Foreign Ministry informed.

Moreover, “it will coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Secretariat the relevant course of action in the multilateral field.” The communiqué added this decision “is a reaffirmation of the profound commitment to a cause which does not belong to Argentines only, but to all the people who fight to end colonialism and for the respect to territorial integrity of independent nations.”

Likewise the “Malvinas Islands issue has been described by the United Nations as a special colonial case and more specifically involves a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom which must be resolved through negotiations between the two sides involved”.

The release also underlines that from his Senator bench, and more specifically as chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, Daniel Filmus has been a reference in Congress for the national government policy regarding the Malvinas issue“.

”Filmus has actively supported President Cristina Fernandez in the layout of strategies for the peaceful recovery of the Malvinas Islands, in conformity with International Law and UN resolutions”, adds the release.

Filmus was one of three Senators from the City of Buenos Aires, representing Cristina Fernandez Victory Front, but lost his re-election bid last October when the government's support plummeted from 50 to 33%.