
Argentina celebrated with ‘enthusiasm’ Washington’s statement that it recognizes the ‘de facto UK administration of the Falklands/Malvinas’ but takes no position regarding sovereignty and calls on both sides to dialogue, said Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman.

Left-wing activists have protested outside the British embassy in Buenos Aires to demand Argentina break off diplomatic relations with the UK over the Falkland Islands dispute.

Argentine manufacturers have requested the administration of President Cristina Fernandez to delay the implementation of the new imports scheme which is scheduled to begin next February first fearing it could cause delays in the supply of non local inputs.

Argentine President Cristina Fernández, on medical leave, took her first trip following surgery earlier this month and is spending the weekend with her children Máximo and Florencia at the presidential summer residence of Chapadmalal.

Brazil has plans to counter the latest battery of trade restrictions which Argentina announced, if they turn out to the barriers for Brazilian exports, reported the influential Folha de Sao Paulo.

Reacting to Brazil’s trade minister Fernando Pimentel comments describing Argentina as “a permanent problem” Industry Minister Debora Giorgi said that “the trade balance reality between Argentina and Brazil does not warrant Pimentel's complaints”.

The head of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), José Ignacio de Mendiguren said on Thursday that the complaints from Brazil over the Argentine import restrictions are “unjustified”.

Britain nowadays is not a colonialist country and Argentina should leave the Falkland and its people in peace and respect their right to self determination, said Falklands elected member of the Legislative Assembly Dick Sawle quoted in the Argentine media.

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman assured that Argentina’s strategy on the Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim “is working” and added that “the only way for England to get out of this mess is through direct negotiations with Argentina.”

Argentina’s acting president and Vice-President Amado Boudou praised the immediate support expressed by several countries in the region in the bilateral conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty.