MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands/Sao Paulo air link: Argentina requests “most discretion” from Brazil

The news was revealed by one of Brazil's main dailies and allegedly the request arrived through informal diplomatic channels from the Argentine foreign ministry

Argentina has requested “most discretion” for the coming Wednesday air link and first flight between Sao Paulo and the Falkland Islands, suggesting no officials be present at the departure. The news was revealed by one of Brazil's main dailies and allegedly the request arrived through informal diplomatic channels from the Argentine foreign ministry.

The Argentine ministry and embassy in Brasilia said they were not aware of the alleged report, but according to Brazilian sources Argentina fears that the presence of Brazilian officials at the launching could be interpreted as a recognition of British sovereignty over the Falklands. However it is clear and beyond any doubt that Brazil recognizes Argentina's claim over the Falkland Islands.

Furthermore Brazilian diplomacy insist that the discretion responds not to a possible change of position from Itamaraty but rather to how politically sensitive the issue is particularly following the victory of Peronist Alberto Fernandez, who responded to a UK congratulations, thanking but also reminding that Argentina will continue to claim sovereignty over the disputed Islands.

Likewise the good neighbor policy implemented by current president Mauricio Macri, is considered a treason by sectors of the encompassing Peronist political movement. Particularly they criticize the Argentine British communiqué of 13 September 2016.

But Folha de Sao Paulo, also points out that the weekly air link with a monthly Wednesday stopover in Cordoba, Argentina, will be operated by the Chilean Brazilian company LATAM, is nothing new. In effect since similar accords dating back to 1999, once a week on Saturday's a Latam flight links Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile with the Falklands, and with a monthly call in Rio Gallegos. This air link has been going on for twenty years.

The Folha de Sao Paulo also mentions statistics on the Islands economy, history, claims and points out that the so called good neighbor policy at different stages was implemented by different Argentine color governments, the first time under Peronist president Carlos Menem and now with opposition conservative Mauricio Macri.