With its green bell tower and royal coat of arms, the Torre Monumental in Buenos Aires would not look out of place in a British market town. The 60-metre Palladian clock tower was a gift from the city’s British community to mark the centenary of Argentina’s 1810 revolution (though it was completed in 1916). On May 24th this year around 200 people gathered to commemorate its centenary.
Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra said on Friday she believes there's no conflict of interest between her bid to be the next U.N. secretary-general and her ministerial work including pressing Argentina's sovereignty claim over the disputed Falkland Islands.
Falkland Islanders are very satisfied with the Chile links and health services in Santiago, was the first reply to media speculations in the Buenos Aires media regarding possible changes in the Argentine government attitude and policies towards the disputed Falklands.
The Falkland Islands and Falkland Islanders must be addressed as if they were Argentines or foreigners living in mainland Argentina, which means a more “normal relation” with the Islands including extending healthcare services, education and even greater air connectivity, according to the latest column from Martin Dinatale, editor in chief of La Nacion who in a previous piece revealed the “humanitarian approach” the government of Mauricio Macri has in mind on the Falklands/Malvinas dispute.
“Humanitarian approach” is how Argentine diplomacy plans to implement policy towards the Falkland Islands including greater air and sea contacts, which could lead to open trade, convincing Mercosur members to lift the ban, plus offers of specialized medicine and higher education opportunities for Falkland Islanders.
Falkland Islands oil and gas producer Rockhopper Exploration Plc has announced that its net contingent oil reserves have doubled to more than 300 million barrels, and independent experts are now eyeing this as nearly billion-barrel basin.
Falkland Islands remains hopeful of improved relations with the new administration of Argentina and cooperation in the many areas of mutual interest such as fisheries and connectivity, but sovereignty of the Falklands is not for negotiation, reads the Gilbert House report to the 46th British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference, which opened on Sunday in Jersey.
Argentina and UK agreed to disagree on the Falklands/Malvinas question, but coincided that the issue should not be an obstacle for the development of a wider positive agenda. Furthermore the two countries agreed on the need to identify possible areas of cooperation in the South Atlantic, such as exploitation of natural resources, and connectivity between the continent and the Islands.
Britain reiterated interest in strengthening relations with Argentina in areas of mutual interest, but also underlined London's position regarding the Falkland Islands remains unchanged, while from Stanley, the Falklands' elected government expressed its willingness to explore a potential cooperation with the Argentine government.
Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra will be in London this Thursday to attend a global summit on combating corruption, and is expected to meet with her peer Philip Hammond, and probably address the Falklands issue, according to Argentine official sources. Malcorra is accompanied by Fulvio Pompeo, Secretary for Strategic Affairs from Argentina's presidency, and a very close advisor to president Mauricio Macri.