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UK prefers to discuss Malvinas with Massa or Macri says Swire, according to Telam

Thursday, March 13th 2014 - 22:51 UTC
Full article 102 comments
Foreign Secretary minister Hugo Swire was interviewed by Telam in Montevideo  Foreign Secretary minister Hugo Swire was interviewed by Telam in Montevideo

British Minister of State for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire has stated London would rather sit at the negotiating table with Argentine opposition presidential hopefuls Sergio Massa or Mauricio Macri to discuss Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty.

 Swire alleged the representatives of Argentina’s opposition would show a “more mature vision” over the bilateral dispute than the Kirchnerite government, according to a report from Telam, Argentina's government official news agency.

When queried by Telam in Montevideo about the state of the Falklands/Malvinas dispute, the UK official said MP Massa and Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires Macri are “presidential contenders” who “will have a more realistic and mature approach over the Falklands question.”

In that sense, Swire revealed London’s position about Argentina's political scenario ahead of next year's presidential elections. The minister expressed UK’s “certainty” that the government “will change” since “Ms. Kirchner can't be reelected.”

“There will be then a new president. And we very much wish that the future government in Buenos Aires holds a different position.”

Hugo Swire, who was appointed Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK in 2012, arrived in Uruguay on Wednesday where he was received by the acting president Vice President Danilo Astori and held meetings with Uruguayan opposition lawmakers who visited the disputed Islands last month.

“We would like to have a friendlier relationship between the Falklands and the rest of the countries, including Argentina,” Swire insisted and recalled the referendum that Falkland Islanders held to reaffirm their decision to remain a British Overseas Territory, in March 2013.

The government of Argentina has long rejected the referendum with President Cristina Fernández personally describing it as a “consortium of squatters,” blasting the UK for the 1883 occupation of the Islands.

Minister Swire attended Chilean president Michelle Bachelet inauguration on Tuesday, and after a round of political talks and business contacts in Uruguay, left for Lima, where he was expected on Thursday.

Top Comments

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  • Domingo

    Swire should politelyreject Argentina's rejection and inform the Argentine Republic that the Falkland Islands are a Self-Governing Territory and it is because of this fact any Argentine rejection of their referendum is meaningless and without legal merit because Argentina does not govern the Falkland Islands, rather the Falkland Islanders do, and it is the Falkland Islanders who make their own political choices for themselves. In short, the Falkland Islands Question has been decidedly answered by the Falkland Islanders themselves and the matter is closed because the Falkland Islanders declare the matter closed

    Mar 13th, 2014 - 11:12 pm 0
  • the_Truth_shall_B_Trolld

    So now they are trying to influence the democratic process of a SOVEREIGN NATION?

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland... I mean Great Britain and Northern Ireland...err, I mean England, Wales and Northern Ireland, sinking to yet a NEW LOW.

    Actually, no, you have not sunk to a new low MINISTER Swire. You ALWAYS have tried to sabotage the democracy of other nations!

    Par for the course. You sank to this low centuries ago.

    Mar 13th, 2014 - 11:20 pm 0
  • yankeeboy

    2, I find it hilarious you think you have democracy in Argentina.
    Didn't some politician just call a judge to call off a raid?
    Psst that doesn't happen in a democracy.
    You are so delusional.

    Cat food para todos

    Mar 13th, 2014 - 11:32 pm 0
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