MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina calls on UK to strengthen bilateral relations and for Malvinas dialogue

On 10 June, Argentine recalls the creation in 1829 of the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas Islands under Vernet

The Argentine government reiterates its full willingness for an open dialogue with the United Kingdom to strengthen the bilateral relation and indentify possible cooperation areas in the South Atlantic. Likewise it invites the UK to resume negotiations on the Malvinas question in the framework of the UN General Assembly resolution 2065, according to an official statement from the Argentine foreign ministry released on Friday.

 The June 10th statement recalls a new anniversary of the creation on that day, in 1829 of the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas Islands and Cape Horn adjoining areas, which was signed by then Buenos Aires province governor, Martin Rodriguez.

The official release goes on to explain that since the emancipation from Spain, Argentina as heir of the Spanish territories in the south of the continent, including the Malvinas and other South Atlantic Islands, fully exercised its rights, on a permanent basis, dictating rules and establishing juridical and administrative structures that consolidated sovereignty, promoting the development of commercial activities, settling of people and an administrative office in Malvinas.

The culmination of this process was the decree establishing the Military and Civilian command of the Malvinas Islands precisely on 10 June 1829, and appointing Luis Vernet as its head.

However on 3 January 1833, rupturing Argentine territorial integrity, the UK illegally occupied the Islands, and appealing to force dislodged the inhabitants and legitimate Argentine authorities settled in the Islands. Since then the Islands have become a sovereignty dispute between the two countries, recognized by resolution 2065 of the UN General Assembly, as by multiple regional and multilateral forums.

“Exercising Argentine full sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands plus adjoining maritime spaces, respecting the way of life of its inhabitants and in conformity with international law, remains a standing inalienable objective of the Argentine people, as established in the First Transitory Clause of the national constitution”.

Further on in conformity with this mandate Argentina once again invites the UK to resume negotiations on the Malvinas Islands question in the terms established by resolutions 2065 and 37/9 and other UN General Assembly pertinent resolutions, and urges an end to unilateral activities in the disputed area, as established by resolution 31/49.

In this spirit, “the Argentine government reiterates once again full willingness for an open dialogue with the UK, and strengthen the bilateral relation and identify possible cooperation areas in the South Atlantic”.

Finally the Argentine government reaffirms once again the imprescriptible sovereignty rights of Argentina over the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich and adjoining maritime spaces, since they are an integral part of Argentine territory.

The statement arguments are not new but are a considerable advance from the Cristina Fernandez administration that called the Falkland Islanders, “squatters” or a 'non people' as defined by ex foreign minister Hector Timerman.