Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli reiterated Argentina’s “militarization” claims in the Falkland Islands and highlighted “serious suspicions” that Britain is using nuclear weapons in the South Atlantic region.
Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli described UK’s announcement to send state of the art and latest incorporation to the Royal Navy HMS Dauntless, and according to the London press a nuclear powered submersible, to the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands as “an unnecessary ostentation of fire power”
Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli rejected the announced UK plan to create a huge marine protection zone in South Georgia saying the British are feeling “uneasy” because of the Argentine diplomatic work displayed to claim the South Atlantic Islands.
“Force” and “defence budgets” are the only reason Great Britain can wield in support of the Malvinas Islands where “it holds 2.000 people hostage on Islands of Argentine sovereignty”, said Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli.
Argentina and Brazil defence ministers confirmed the two countries “strategic alliance” and subscribed a bilateral cooperation declaration emphasizing on the South Atlantic as “a Peace Zone, free of nuclear weapons”.
Brazil’s Minister of Defence Celso Amorim is in Buenos Aires for several scheduled meetings this week with his Argentine counterpart Arturo Puricelli and to establish closer ties in defence issues in the framework of Unasur (Union of South American nations).
Argentina proposed this week in Brazil the creation of a South American Space Agency, an initiative which was supported by host Brazil during a Defence seminar in Sao Paulo.
In an interview with the Buenos Aires Herald, Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli demands that Falklands’ sovereignty talks must be started before any other issues can be discussed.
Argentina is not going to make things easy for Britain in the Falkland Islands and the first discussion, before any other issues are addressed, must be the legitimacy of the Malvinas Islands sovereignty, said Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli in a Sunday interview by Carolina Barrios published in the Buenos Aires Herald.
Argentina is considering the development of “nuclear propulsion” for its diesel-engine submarines, according to Defence minister Arturo Puricelli. The initiative follows a request from President Cristina Fernandez and is closely linked to Brazil’s construction of a first nuclear powered submersible with French technology.