By Rebecca Kendall (*) - It has been 30 years since the war over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands ended, but the question of sovereignty in the Islands, located 248 miles off the coast of Argentina, is still very much fresh in the minds of those closest to the issue, including Argentina’s Ambassador to the United States Jorge Argüello.
United States will reiterate at the coming OAS General Assembly that the Falklands/Malvinas Islands difference is a bilateral issue to be resolved between Argentina and the UK, which means the US delegation, will not take position in a possible declaration in support of Argentina.
Self-determination is the only solution that will lead to a permanent, peaceful solution to the Falklands’ sovereignty dispute with Argentina said Falkland Islands lawmaker Roger Edwards addressing a regional seminar of the UN Decolonization Committee in Ecuador.
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said he expects a consensus is reached on the Falklands/Malvinas issue next week when the Organization of American States general assembly, following the lack of agreement at the last Summit of the Americas in Colombia.
President Cristina Fernandez will be attending next June 14 the UN Decolonization meeting in New York where she is expected to make a strong case for Argentina’s claim over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands.
Ecuadorean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ricardo Patiño called on Wednesday for an end to the remains of colonialism and specifically mentioned the Falklands/Malvinas, Puerto Rico and the US Guantanamo base in Cuba.
Falkland Islands Member of the elected Legislative Assembly Roger Edwards is scheduled to address the UN Special Committee on Decolonization regional seminar which opened Wednesday May 30 in Quito, capital of Ecuador.
Jersey Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, is to visit the Falkland Islands from 10 to 16 June 2012 to take part in commemorating the 30th anniversary of their liberation, reports the local media.
OAS secretary general Jose Miguel Insulza believes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will miss the Organization of American States General Assembly because of “agenda problems” and not over discrepancies on the issues to the addressed.
Bolivian president Evo Morales announced on Monday he will request at the coming Organization of American States, OAS General Assembly to be held in Cochabamba that the issues of Malvinas Argentine sovereignty and a sea outlet for Bolivia be discussed.