MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina recalls the Day of Affirmation of its Rights over the South Atlantic Islands

The emancipated United Provinces which would later become Argentina, named German born merchant Luis Vernet as first governor of the Malvinas Islands

Argentina recalled on Monday, 10 June, a new anniversary of the creation in 1829 of the “Political and Military command headquarters of the Malvinas Islands and adjacencies to Cape Horn in the Atlantic Sea”, and which has been incorporated to the official calendar as the Day of Affirmation of Argentine Rights over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and its surrounding maritime spaces.

A release from the Ministry of foreign affairs states that this date marks Argentina's affirmation of its sovereignty rights over the Islands since the country was emancipated, and as legitimate heir of the Spanish territory and of other islands in the South Atlantic.

Further on the statement says that in those years Buenos Aires dictated rules, and legal and administrative structures were established consolidating the full exercise of Argentine sovereignty, promoting the development of commercial activities, the settlement of population and the establishment of a government seat, precisely on this day (10 June), and at the head of which was then Governor Luis Vernet.

”This effective exercise of sovereignty was interrupted on 3 January 1833, when the UK expelled, appealing to force, the legitimate Argentine authorities and the population there settled, interrupting the territorial integrity of Argentina. Since that date this act of force was never consented by any of Argentine governments, and currently the Islands are the object of a sovereignty dispute with the UK, which is recognized by the UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 (XX)“.

That is why the recovery of the full exercise of our sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces, respecting the way of life of its inhabitants and in compliance with International Law, are a standing and unrenounceable objective of all Argentines, as established in the First Transitory clause of the National Constitution.

Since 2016 this Argentine government has promoted a constructive relation with the UK which has allowed us to advance in areas of mutual interest in the South Atlantic, reflecting our full willingness to an open and substantial dialogue that includes all issues.

”We are convinced that this dialogue climate will also generate a framework to resume sovereignty negotiations, in the terms established by US resolutions and its Special Committee on Decolonization“.

In this aspiration Argentina is seconded by countries from the region and numerous international forae such as Mercosur, OAS, G77 plus China, and Ibero-American summits, from which in multiple occasions we have received expressions in favor of the resumption of negotiations to find a definitive solution to this prolonged controversy.

Finally, Argentina is committed to the peaceful solution of controversies and multilateralism in the framework of international order, based o rules.

”We trust that through the toils of the UN General Assembly and its Special Committee on Decolonization, recently reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice, it will be able to advance towards the elimination of colonialism in all parts of the world, and in all its forms, including the Malvinas Question“.

Thus is such a significant anniversary for all Argentines, ”we reaffirm once again our sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and adjoining maritime spaces, since they are an integral part of the Argentine national Territory”.