MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina, a bi-continental territory, South Atlantic and Antarctica; this year marks the 200th anniversary of its flag in the Falklands
US naval officer and privateer David Jewett flew the United Provinces flag in 1820, following specific instructions from then Buenos Aires governor Martín Rodríguez 
Filmus said claim of the Malvinas “must include respect for the interests of the Islanders and comply with what our Constitution says about their way of life”. 
The Foradori/Duncan communiqué, will be reviewed in all that affects national interests”, underlined Filmus 
But identification of fallen soldiers in Falklands will continue, “it is a humanitarian action that must continue until its finalizations, and to this we are committed” (Pic ICRC) The administration of Argentine president Alberto Fernandez will implement an integral policy towards the Malvinas Islands, Antarctica and the South Atlantic because it wants to emphasize the maritime projection of Argentina and the fact that it is a bi-continental territory.
The statement belongs to Daniel Filmus the recently appointed Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic Secretary who also underlined 2020 is a very special year since Argentina will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the flying of its flag, for the first time in the Malvinas Islands, by US navy officer and privateer David Jewett following specific instructions from then Buenos Aires governor Martín Rodríguez.
“We shall do everything we consider necessary to defend our sovereignty claim over the Malvinas, and the conservation of our natural resources in the South Atlantic whose defense were neglected under the previous administration”, pointed out Filmus who has been quite loquacious lately since his recent appointment.
Anyhow Argentina's claim of the Malvinas Islands “must include respect for the interests of the Islanders and comply with what our Constitution says about their way of life”.
More specifically on the maritime projection of Argentina and its bi-continental condition, Filmus said besides reaffirming presence in the South Atlantic and Antarctica, ”the Argentine sea (South Atlantic) is one of the richest in living and non living resources, which represents a great challenge for marine scientific research and conservation of bio diversity, and an excellent opportunity for international cooperation and regional integration“.
Filmus said that Argentina to its approximately 4.799.000 square kilometers of territorial waters now has added 1.782.000 sq km of continental shelf beyond the 200 miles, with rights over sea bed and below sea bed resources, according to the UN committee on continental shelf limits. This does not include the areas surrounding the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands given the sovereignty dispute with the UK.
”Active sovereignty presence in the continental shelf and its resources is strategic as is Argentina's membership of the Antarctic Treaty, we will work strongly to consolidate our maritime and Antarctic conscience“, adding that in this framework the recovery of the Malvinas Islands is top priority of the Fernandez administration foreign policy.
”The Macri government formal but low intensity demand of Malvinas sovereignty, and its 'no defense' policy of our resources was clearly established in the Foradori/Duncan communiqué, which will be reviewed in all that affects national interests“, affirmed Filmus who nevertheless said that the identification of fallen soldiers in Malvinas will continue, ”it is a humanitarian action that must continue until its finalizations, and to this we are committed“
To this purpose the ”sovereignty umbrella“ which enables a dialogue with UK will continue and a good example of this is the identification of soldiers remains, ”but the problem is not the umbrella but what's under it, no way will it be used to yield sovereignty or allow the looting of our natural resources“.
How will it be implemented? ”As president Fernandez set it out in three main objectives, keep pounding our sovereignty claim in all multilateral forae, and demanding compliance with the UN General Assembly Resolution 2065, which calls on the UK to begin a bilateral dialogue on sovereignty. Secondly International Law and Argentine law protect our natural resources in the usurped region and finally, insist with awareness of the Malvinas cause in Argentine society, generation after generation, including honoring those who fought bravely in the defense of our sovereignty”.
All this will be supported by a plural Malvinas National Council, with representatives from the political opposition, Tierra del Fuego province, academia, law experts and Veterans, which will work on medium and long term State policies, with the purpose of complying with the Constitution. The council will depend directly from the Presidency.
Finally Filmus underlined the two centuries, next November, since the United Provinces flag (Argentina) was flown by David Jewett Malvinas (in Port Louis) on instructions from then Buenos Aires governor Martin Rodriguez, “a milestone in the claim of the Malvinas Islands, since the very beginning of our nation, and working along the only path possible, peacefully, resuming dialogue with the UK, so we can advance in the recovery of our territorial integrity”
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsPerhaps they have found the instructions from Rodriguez? He took power as Governor in the Province of Buenos Aires 6 months the privateer Jewett had sailed from the Rio de la Plata. Perhaps he sent a text?
Jan 06th, 2020 - 11:59 am +6That said, Argentine historian Caillet-Bois considered Rodriguez to be the common element, suggesting that he had advised Pacheco about the cattle on East Falkland as early as 1820. Strange that the UP had not mentioned their pretensions to the US Commissioners in 1818. If the UP/BA had designs on the Falklands, strange that they told the Commissioners that their southern boundary was at latitude 37 degrees south. But then, they said much the same to Woodbine Parish in 1825.
Interesting, but not particularly relevant for the question of sovereignty. Jewett's 'act of possession' in 1820, preceded the claim by Buenos Aires (not Argentina) in 1829. Wrong way around.
Most importantly, Jewett's action was not adopted by the government of the United Provinces. Not announced in the official Gazette. Not formally made public. A necessary prerequisite to any pretence of ownership. But then the UP had broken up in April, 1820, so there was no country to adopt the act.
And then of course, when Jewett sailed away, he left nothing behind. No flags or other marks & signs of possession. A minor, and little strange, footnote in history.
Not effective possession, so therefore of no great relevance.
Still, them Argies do like their straws ;-)
All rather pathetic. With poverty rampant in Argentina, with the economy in tatters thanks to the profligate and irresponsible policies of the “other” Fernandez during her presidency, the new Fernandez can only turn to beating the old and discredited drum of fallacious Argentine “sovereignty” over the Falkland Islands. It is the modern-day equivalent of bread and circuses, to keep the attention of the economically downtrodden populace anywhere but on their plight, one induced but the discredited policies of Peronism.
Jan 06th, 2020 - 12:25 pm +5Norway also has an Antarctic claim. But they do not call themselves a “bicontinental country”. Why is Argentina so special?
Jan 06th, 2020 - 11:23 am +4Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!