Falkland Islanders are hoping to mark the 40th Liberation anniversary with a year of events that both commemorate the liberation of the islands and look to their future, the Chair of the 40th-anniversary committee told Mercopress this week.
The United Nations Decolonization Committee, or C24, unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday calling on the UK and Argentina to resume negotiations, so that in the shortest time possible a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty controversy over the Falkllands, South Georgia, South Sandwich islands and adjoining maritime spaces.
Argentine president Alberto Fernandez has repeatedly said that the Malvinas question is a matter of State and his government will continue to pursue sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands until we recover the territory, which is currently usurped by the United Kingdom.
Higher fines to those illegally fishing in Argentine waters, including around the Malvinas Islands, is directed to discourage poachers, indicated Argentine foreign minister Felipe Solá who also defended the decision to interrupt the exchange of fisheries information on the South Atlantic bio-mass with the United Kingdom and the Falklands.
Argentine foreign minister Felipe Solá anticipated that the Falklands/Malvinas Islands will be the priority in relations with the United Kingdom, and to protect the South Atlantic fisheries, fines have to be much harsher since now they are ridiculous low.
Argentine minister of Defense Agustin Rossi announced the decision to postpone a Strategic Dialogue meeting with UK peers which was scheduled to take place during the first week of March.
The Kirchnerite government headed by president Alberto Fernandez announced on Sunday, at the opening of the 138th congressional session, the new focus of the Malvinas Islands/Antarctica policy which will emphasize the sovereignty claim over the South Atlantic Islands, particularly the Falklands, and sanction those fishing companies operating in the area.
Argentina is again putting pressure on Uruguay, this time on the incoming government which takes office next March first, insisting no UK military aircraft linked to the Falkland Islands be allowed to land in the country's airports and Falklands should not be treated as state with which Uruguay has extensive trade and business exchanges.
The Argentine foreign ministry reported that on Thursday it had reaffirmed before UN Decolonization Committee, C24, the country's 'legitimate rights' over the South Atlantic Islands and surrounding maritime spaces, and called on the United Kingdom to resume negotiations for a peaceful solution to the dispute.
The junior member of the Argentine opposition coalition criticized the policies implemented to address the Falklands/Malvinas by the governments of presidents Carlos Menem, and Nestor and Cristina Kirchner.