MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

'Malvinas Institute' in La Plata university to research 'sovereignty policies'

“Our idea is to make Malvinas an important studies issue in all disciplines: from geography, to history and human rights” said Fernando Tauber

The University of La Plata, province of Buenos Aires, is setting up a “Malvinas Institute” that will specialize in 'sovereignty policies' research, as part of the Political Sciences department. The new research and extension center will be located in a former military barracks in downtown La Plata which was ceased to the university.

 “Our idea is to make Malvinas an important studies issue in all disciplines: from geography, to history and human rights” said Fernando Tauber, the deputy dean of the La Plata university, during the ceremony in which Lieutenant Colonel Alejandro Schack formally handed the 4.000 square meters premises which once was headquarters of the Argentine Army's X Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

Tauber underlined the significance of the lease which will enable “to set up an academic environment for scientific research in several disciplines including that to help recover our Malvinas Islands”.

City officials from La Plata, capital of the Buenos Aires province, university professors and staff as well as Malvinas war veterans attended the ceremony.

The 'Malvinas Institute' will be an executive unit for research, development, transfer and innovation in 'sovereignty policies', directly linked to the recovery of political sovereignty, economic independence and territorial integrity of Argentine insular territories, read the proclamation.

The initiative to transfer the premises from the Army to the university started in 2012 with the support of La Plata Malvinas veterans Center, CECIM, with the request for a space and institute to honor the Argentine combatants who lost their lives during the Falklands/Malvinas war in 1982. Allegedly earlier this year the initiative got moving with the help from cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich.

The La Plata university is not as academically rated as the University of Buenos Aires, but has some outstanding science departments. Among those who studied law at the university, and where they met, are Cristina Fernandez and her late husband, Nestor Kirchner.

The Journalism school at the university is also known for developing the so called 'militant journalism' brand, that basically means reporting in support of the government, and among those who were awarded the Rodolfo Walsh Prize at this particular school are Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Ecuador's Rafael Correa and Bolivia's Evo Morales.

Last April Cristina Fernandez was awarded the honoris causa degree, in merit to being one of the most distinguished students of the university.