MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ambassador Castro thanks British unions for support in 'vulture funds' and Malvinas disputes

Ambassador Castro addressing the UK Communication Workers Union’s (CWU) Annual Women’s Congress, held last Saturday in Leeds.

In a speech delivered to over three hundred trade union delegates, Argentine ambassador in London Alicia Castro thanked the British unions for their support in fighting the 'vulture funds' and in backing the call for dialogue on the question of the Falklands/Malvinas, while praising progress made by Argentina regarding the role of women.

 Ambassador Castro, participated as a keynote speaker in the UK Communication Workers Union’s (CWU) Annual Women’s Congress, held last Saturday in Leeds, invited by CWU Secretary General, Billy Hayes.

“This is an opportunity to share experiences and take inspiration from our achievements. As women we need to empower ourselves and transmit that courage to others, because we will achieve nothing if we do not fight for it ”, said Ms Castro who shared her personal experience as a trade union leader, Member of Parliament and diplomat.

In her speech, Alicia Castro praised the British trade unions’ condemnation of the actions of the speculative funds or 'vulture funds' and the support for dialogue on the Falklands/Malvinas Question.

“I want to welcome the support extended to my country in our fight against the vulture funds. These funds pose a threat not only to Argentina, but for all countries in the world and their capacity to stimulate their economy and create jobs”, the Argentine Ambassador stated.

“But I would also like to give special thanks to the British trade unions for their solidarity with our call for dialogue over the Malvinas Question”, she added.

Alicia Castro mentioned gains that have been made in equality and social justice in Latin America, following what she defined as “a decade of revolutionary changes in the continent”.

“In a globalised world with an economy in crisis, our continent can provide some lessons to the world”, she stated. “It is a region with well-established democracies and governments that defend political sovereignty, economic independence and social justice. It is, above all, a region of peace in which women play a key role.”

“We have courageous women leaders governing many of our continent’s progressive governments, fighting for equality, sovereignty and peace: Michelle Bachelet in Chile, Dilma Rousseff in Brazil, Cristina Fernández in Argentina”, Ambassador Castro stated, concluding, “we do not believe in war as a means of resolving disputes, we do not believe in foreign interventions or armed violence as a way of imposing a given political or economic system”.