MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina/UK statement on Falklands and dialogue ”promising”, but Congress decides

“My position is very clear, I always support dialogue, but also the defense of our natural resources in the Malvinas and surrounding areas”, said governor Bertone.

The recent Argentina/UK joint cooperation statement, with a chapter on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, is “promising”, however much rests to be defined and agreed, and additional air links should be carried out by Argentina's flag carrier, according to Rosana Bertone, governor of the extreme south province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands.

 ”A first consideration, (on the joint statement drafted by foreign minister Susana Malcorra and UK's Foreign Office minister for the Americas Alan Duncan) is that dialogue, any dialogue is positive, and we have always favored this path. However even when the additional two air links with the Islands are promising, despite details of the extent of the cooperation have yet to be defined, I believe that air links should be guaranteed to be serviced with Argentina's flag carrier“, pointed out governor Bertone.

As to the phrasing that refers ”to the appropriate measures to remove all obstacles limiting the economic growth and sustainable development of the Falkland Islands, including in trade, fishing, shipping and hydrocarbons“, Bertone recalled that those were bills were approved by Congress so ”we still have to see how, and how far, lawmakers are prepared to flexibilize a situation which clearly was geared to guarantee the protection of our living natural resources and those of the continental shelf, as enshrined in our national and provincial constitutions“.

Likewise given ”my unmovable defense of sovereignty over our territory, in all those places I had to make my stance, I have always defended and will continue to defend unconditionally our rights over hydrocarbon and fishing resources, and as such I will continue“.

”My position is very clear, I will always support dialogue, but also the defense of our natural resources in the Malvinas and surrounding areas”, concluded governor Bertone.

Under the 1994 Argentine constitution the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands includes the Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands.