The Argentine Ministry of Defense and the Navy paid tribute to the courage and glory of the 323 sailors who died during the sinking of the cruiser ARA Belgrano, on 2 May 1982, at the beginning of hostilities with UK during the South Atlantic conflict.
Defense minister Agustín Rossi called on Argentines to claim sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands with the same character displayed by the Argentine pilots during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict with the UK and underlined it's up to the new generations to make sure the Malvinas cause is not forgotten.
Some four thousand troops, including Malvinas Veterans will be marching this Tuesday in the posh district of Palermo in Buenos Aires, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Last year the parade was cancelled because of budget problems.
Next June/July eighteen former Argentine officers will be facing formal torture charges, allegedly committed against conscripts during the Falklands conflict 37 years ago, and twelve years since the beginning of the official investigation by the Tierra del Fuego federal court.
In anticipation of the 37th anniversary of the start of the South Atlantic conflict, 2 April 1982, the Argentine football association and Army have organized a raft of events to pay homage to the 649 combatants fallen during the invasion of the British South Atlantic Islands claimed by Argentina.
Next Wednesday a group of relatives of Argentine soldiers fallen in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict and whose remains were recently identified will be travelling to the Argentine military cemetery at Darwin in the Falkland Islands. Relatives will be able to mourn and pray next to the gravestones which now have the full name of their loved ones. A military ceremony will also be held to honor the Argentine soldiers buried at Darwin.
The relatives of the latest 29 Argentine soldiers remains identified in the Falklands will be flying on 13 March to the Islands, to the Argentine military cemetery at Darwin to pray and honor their loved ones. The announcement was done by the Argentine journalist Martin Dinatale, who is usually well informed on Falklands issues.
Argentina paid homage on Tuesday to the 323 crew and officers who lost their lives when the Navy's cruiser General Belgrano was sunk on 2 May 1982, by a British submersible in the midst of the Falklands conflict 35 years ago.
Argentina's Air Force commemorated with a parade and display of force the 35th anniversary of its ''Baptism of Fire”, which occurred on May first 1982 when Argentine fighters completed over 50 sorties in an attempt to repeal the British Task Force sent to recover the Malvinas Islands.
The Argentine Senate unanimously (58/58) passed a bill with a special pensions' scheme, described as exceptional and optional for those citizens who were involved in the Malvinas war. The vote was cheered by the veterans present at the session's discussion.