Falklands oil industry sources confirmed that the semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson oil exploration rig has reached Falklands’ waters and should be spudding its first well next Monday.
Argentine Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo, quickly hit back at the statements made by the British government, after Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Argentina “should stop their intimidation attempts” against the Falkland Islanders.
Following on unanimous support from all political sectors in Congress Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo reiterated on Friday Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, underlining that “Malvinas are a State policy and Argentina rights over the Islands are inalienable.”
Argentina celebrated with ‘enthusiasm’ Washington’s statement that it recognizes the ‘de facto UK administration of the Falklands/Malvinas’ but takes no position regarding sovereignty and calls on both sides to dialogue, said Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman.
The European Union considers that the new tense situation between Argentina and the UK over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands is a “bilateral issue”, however the Falklands figure under EU treaties as a British Overseas Territory, said the EU Foreign Affairs Representative spokesperson.
Argentina’s acting president and Vice-President Amado Boudou praised the immediate support expressed by several countries in the region in the bilateral conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty.
Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman echoed the statements made by UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron in which he accused Argentina of colonialism, and counter attacked by saying that “it catches one’s attention to hear such statements when Great Britain and Colonialism are synonymous.”
The Chilean Foreign Affairs ministry has been very busy doing a complete review of norms and of maritime traffic and international trade agreements in the event of what are considered growing pressures from Argentina to establish a sort of “regional blockade” against the Malvinas Islands, a UK Overseas Territory.
Bolivian president Evo Morales said the Malvinas Islands are Argentine and gave full support to his peer Cristina Fernandez siding with Mercosur in the dispute with the UK over the South Atlantic Islands sovereignty and the latest decision to bar all Falklands flagged vessels from regional ports.
A Spanish fishing vessel flying the Falkland Islands flag was barred from entering the alternative port of Punta del Este where she was planning to receive crewmembers. The news was confirmed by Uruguay’s Coast Guard.