Timerman turns down meeting with Hague, Malvinas assembly members

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman turned down an invitation by his British counterpart William Hague to take part in a meeting in London with representatives of the Malvinas government, assuring that “the international community does not accept the involvement of a third party” in the sovereignty issue.

In a letter directly addressed to Hague, Timerman acknowledged that he had been interested in holding a bilateral meeting with him during his next visit to London since “he is responsible for the United Kingdom’s foreign policy,” and regretted that he wouldn’t’ meet “without the supervision of the Malvinas Islands settlers.”

“It is unfortunate that you reject a bilateral meeting. Your decision will surely affect Argentina’s interest in working with the United Kingdom in the G20, the UN Security Council, matters of nuclear proliferation, human trafficking, money laundering, drugs, investment, trade, human rights and many others in which both countries are active members of the international community,” he stated.

Timerman concluded the letter by inviting Hague to “visit Argentina and hold a bilateral meeting, so you can appreciate that our country is a true democracy where my foreign counterparts can meet freely with whomever they want without me having to pressure them.”