MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands will be making their case before the UN C24 this week

Krysteen Ormond, MLA Mike Summers, Karen Minto and MLA Gavin Short with the US Congress cupola in the background

The Falkland Islands and Argentina will be making their case on Thursday in New York before the United Nations Special Decolonization Committee, or C24, an annual event where the Islanders demand recognition of their right to self determination, as clearly expressed in the UN charter for all peoples of the world.

 However the overall majority of developing countries which make up C24, always end up recognizing Argentine sovereignty and territorial integrity rights over the Falklands, and calling on both sides, Argentina and the UK, to begin bilateral discussions, explicitly ignoring the Falklands' people, to peacefully end the ongoing dispute.

This year as can be expected, since the president of C24 is from Venezuela and the rapporteur from Syria, a similar declaration in support of Argentina can be anticipated. However this time some slight changes can be awaited from Argentina's attitude, contrary to years of aggressive arrogant presentations to the extent that the Falkland Islanders were catalogued as intruders and squatters.

In effect, since taking office last December the president Macri administration has stated its interest in improved relations with the UK, turning the clock back to when Buenos Aires and London were close trade, investment and political friends. Macri has met with Prime Minister Cameron and Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra with her counterpart, Philip Hammond.

Admitting that 80% of relations with the UK are smooth an civilized, Malcorra argues that only 20% face difficulties because of the Falklands/Malvinas issue, but advancing on the 80% will help with the 20%, always remembering that the Malvinas claim is an Argentine constitution mandate.

Likewise since Ms Malcorra aspires to succeed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the end of the year, the Argentine claim before C24 should contemplate situations that do not offend decisive votes for her ambition. Ms Malcorra has visited Moscow and Beijing, where she patched up some diplomatic differences, and Paris, London and allegedly has the support from Washington, although it's too early to confirm it.

But despite all, the Falkland Islands have moved on: the elected representatives who will be making the presentation before C24 on Thursday, this last weekend concluded a highly political lobbying tour in the United States, more specifically in Washington where they visited the State Department and met with several Congress members, from different states, who support the Islands position and their right to decide their future.

As an autonomous government, freely elected, with a self sufficient economy and a 2013 referendum in which Islanders overwhelmingly opted to continue as a British Overseas Territory, US congress members support is significant as was that from the Canadian government and lawmakers in an earlier tour.

In effect, MLA Mike Summers and MLA Gavin Short, together with Falklands' government representative Krysteen Ormond visited the Desk at the State Department which has the Falklands case, and held talks in Congress, among others with US Representatives, Ken Marchant (Texas); Mario Diaz Balart (Florida); Albio Sires (New Jersey); Alan Grayson (Florida) and Matt Salmon (Arizona). Later they met with representatives from Americas Society/Council of the Americas, an important think/tank linked to Latin American affairs.

It must also be recalled that at the beginning of the month, in Managua, Nicaragua, Falklands' government representative Krysteen Ormond addressed the Pacific Regional Seminar of the C24, an anticipation of the main meeting later this week.

However said this, at the recent Organization of American States, OAS, general assembly held in Santo Domingo, a strong statement in support of Argentina and its rights over the Malvinas Islands was again issued.

Ms Malcorra said in the occasion that the Malvinas “is a historic and central issue for all Argentines”, and an objective “that transcends governments and is a true State policy in which all political forces agree”. The minister added that in the six months of the Macri administration, the new government has met with Cameron and Hammond, and pointed out that the Argentine interest is “a wide ranging agenda with the UK that will allow us to discuss all issues and build understandings in different spheres”.

Following on the presentation, Brazil reiterated its support for Argentina's claim, and read the OAS resolution on the Falklands/Malvinas issue; this was followed by Paraguay, reading the resolution in the name of Unasur; likewise Uruguay for Mercosur. This was openly supported in the general assembly by Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Only Canada stood up to say it did not support the resolution.