MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islanders under Argentina 'will elect their own members to Congress and enjoy oil benefits'

“Argentina will recover sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands some day, and in the meantime we will continue with dialogue and claims” said Castro

'Some day' Argentina will recover sovereignty over the Malvinas and in no way will the Falkland Islanders or their culture, traditions or language be discriminated, and furthermore they will be able to elect their members to congress, governor and fully enjoy the benefits of oil production.

 The statement belongs to Argentine ambassador in London, Alicia Castro, during Monday's celebrations in Chubut province marking the 150th anniversary of the arrival in Patagonia of the first Welsh settlers, and which also included a delegation headed by Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones.

“Argentina will recover sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands some day, and in the meantime we will continue with dialogue and claims, along a peaceful path to make time shorter”, said ambassador Castro.

She added that when the Welsh settlers arrived in Argentina (28 July 1865) they were allowed to keep their culture, tradition, language and they also showed a great coexistence spirit with the tehuelches who inhabited these lands, “an example to imitate by the sides interested in the Malvinas, particularly the British” whom she accused of promoting the idea that Argentines would be hostile towards the Falkland Islanders.

Ambassador Castro also underlined the participation in the celebrations of First Minister Carwyn Jones, and said it was rather strange that the British government refused to negotiate the Islands sovereignty, when the claim “is not only Argentine, but global”.

Finally the ambassador said she was hopeful because the day in which Argentina takes control over the Islands, Falkland Islanders ('kelpers') will enjoy a better life since they will be able to elect their own governor, representatives to the Argentine congress and could also benefit directly from the exploitation of fisheries and the oil industry.

“In no way the Argentines or the Argentine state will be hostile towards the kelpers, nor will there be an attempt to change their language, culture, customs, and evidence of this are the approximately 50.000 Welsh descendents who live in Patagonia and daily, keep their own language, which their ancestors brought with them”.