In the midst of Argentina’s campaign for the October presidential election, Defence minister Arturo Puricelli accused the UK of using military force to keep “the Falkland Islanders as hostages” and said Argentina won’t fall prey of “militaristic” provocations.
Defence minister Arturo Puricelli denied Thursday that Argentina was obstructing the economy of the Malvinas Islands as claimed by Falklands’ governor Nigel Haywood in his state of the nation speech to the elected Legislative Assembly of the Islands.
UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) Secretary General Maria Emma Mejia and several defence ministers from the region will be meeting in Buenos Aires this week for the official inauguration of the Defence Strategic Studies Centre, CEED, which is to become the first permanent body of Unasur Defence Council.
Argentine Defence Secretary Arturo Puricelli said he was disappointed with the “excessive coverage” granted by the Argentine media to the Royal Wedding and regretted so little attention was given to the commemoration of Malvinas conflict events.
Defence minister Arturo Puricelli said Monday that Argentina “has no conflict hypothesis with countries from the region” and thanked the “strong support” from his visiting Brazilian peer Nelson Jobim regarding Argentine sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.
Conflicting assessments of Argentina’s military capacity, defence policies and future planning were given by the brand-new Defence minister, Arturo Puricelli and a former minister from the opposition.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner appointed on Tuesday former provincial governor Arturo Antonio Puricelli to replace Defence Minister Nilda Garre, who will be taking the reins the new ministry responsible for domestic security.