Uruguayan gov't refers to Malvinas as 'Falklands' in official decree

A small diplomatic slip up in the Uruguayan government has once again ignited the Malvinas Islands controversy, after a document recently issued by the neighbouring country’s Foreign Ministry describes the archipelago as “Falkland.” 

The statement is featured in a decree signed by President José “Pepe” Mujíca last June 25th. The document, issued by Uruguayan Foreign Ministry, updates the schedule of diplomatic mission visits so they are acommodated to the requirements of citizens living abroad.

“I hereby approve the distribution of consular jurisdictions which will regulate the activity of Diplomatic Missions working on a consular capacity and Consular Offices of the Republic,” the document signed by Mujíca reads.

Included in an attached document is a description of consular jurisdictions enumerating all the countries in which Uruguay has diplomatic representation. The list also includes those states in which Uruguay has no consular office and designates nearby offices in other countries to function as such.

In the South America section, under the headline “Dependent Territories,” the name “Falkland Islands” can be read. As explained right next to it, there is no consular office in the archipelago, for which such district is supervised by the Uruguayan delegation in the United Kingdom. 

The Uruguayan error lies in not refering to the islands correctly, as stated in a disposition by the United Nation’s Secretariat, which in 1966 set that when addressing the islands in official documents, they are to be called “Malvinas,” when they are in Spanish, and “Falkland” when they are in English.

It is a glaring mistake considering it comes from a country – and an administration – that has always positioned itself as an unconditional ally of Argentina in the Malvinas controversy. 

Uruguay’s support – and the region’s – was strongly expressed last December 20th when the Mercosur trading bloc agreed on banning all ships flying the Malvinas flag.

Also last March, Unasur’s foreign ministers issued a statement condemning the British military presence on the islands.