MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklanders invited to 'third party' dialogue with Argentine lawmakers

Dr. Asseff has written on the Falklands dispute and is also chair of the Mercosur Committee in the Lower House and holds a bench in the Mercosur Parliament

An Argentine congressman has extended an open invitation to two, three 'inhabitants of the Falkland Islands', to participate in a meeting with Argentine lawmakers interested in listening to the 'third party' in the Falklands/Malvinas dispute.

 The invitation from Alberto Asseff, member of the Defense and International Relations Committees of the Argentine Lower House, was made through a letter published in the last edition of Penguin News, and presented by Ricardo Gomez Kenny, who identifies himself as a founder and president of the Falklands/Malvinas Friendship Association, created in the city of Rosario.

“I wish the Islanders would consider the importance of this invitation, which we are forwarding today, as some members of Congress in Argentina have begun to show interest in hearing your opinions”, reads the letter.

According to the official biography, Dr. Alberto Emilio Asseff is a representative for the Province of Buenos Aires, lawyer by training, teacher, writer and columnist of social, history, moral, political and Argentine, South America and world geo-strategy issues.

Dr. Asseff who has written on the Falklands dispute and is a regular speaker on the subject is also chair of the Mercosur Committee in the Lower House and as such holds a bench in the Mercosur Parliament, Parlasur.

The full text of the letter, under the heading of “Invitation to 'third party'” follows:

The members of the Falklands /Malvinas Friendship Association (ACAM/F), created 14 years ago in the city of Rosario, Argentina, are pleased to report that we have received a valuable invitation from a group of Argentine legislators with express orders to resend it to the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands.

The invitation comes from Congressman Alberto Asseff (2) who is a member of the Committee of International Relations of Congress.

In his note he has expressed that the meeting will be opened unconditionally in the hope that we go accompanied by two or three Falklands inhabitants.

The recent message from Mike Summers OBE reiterated the British position that debates in the South Atlantic must involve three parts (three communities), however, Argentina has always supported that they would only accept the argument between two parties, London and Buenos Aires.

I understand that Mr Summers was referring to the Islanders when he mentioned a “third party”.

I wish the Islanders would consider the importance of this invitation, which we are forwarding today, as some members of Congress in Argentina have begun to show interest in hearing your opinions.

Possibly in this first initial meeting we will not make very significant progression substantial issues but we could agree that in future you are always invited to meetings about the South Atlantic.

Not accepting would mean losing a great opportunity to establish better communications.

Do not forget that good communication is convenient not only in agreements with positive economic benefits for both communities (such as tourism, fisheries, etc.) it also helps when making claims directly to the possible originators.

The objective is to know, first hand, how the Islanders think and the ‘agenda’ will be defined along with the guest obviously adjusting the questions to their specialty.

Whoever believes this proposal should be accepted, please email us for details acamigos_mf@yahoo.com.ar/ or/ rgomezkenny36@ yahoo.com.ar

Ricardo Gomez Kenny, Argentina

(1) Ricardo Gomez Kenny: Founder and current President of the Falklands/Malvinas Friendship Association, a private institution that works, since 2000, to facilitate a rapprochement between Continentals and Islanders.

(2) Alberto Emilio Asseff: National Deputy for the Province of Buenos Aires, lawyer, teacher, writer and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For more information see www.unirargentina.com.ar/albertoasseff/