Argentine Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo, quickly hit back at the statements made by the British government, after Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Argentina “should stop their intimidation attempts” against the Falkland Islanders.
In an article published today the Foreign Secretary William Hague sets out why the future of the Falkland Islands can only be decided by its people themselves.
Following on unanimous support from all political sectors in Congress Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo reiterated on Friday Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, underlining that “Malvinas are a State policy and Argentina rights over the Islands are inalienable.”
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.
The European Union considers that the new tense situation between Argentina and the UK over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands is a “bilateral issue”, however the Falklands figure under EU treaties as a British Overseas Territory, said the EU Foreign Affairs Representative spokesperson.
Ships from the Falkland Islands that are barred from ports in Argentina and other Mercosur trade bloc countries can re-flag as British ships at any time to avoid the ban, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
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.