Malvinas: UK Ambassador to Chile 'concerned' over Mercosur support

The British Ambassador to Chile, Jon Benjamin, expressed today “concern” over “countries that have joined” the Mercosur bloc in their decision to support Argentina, by putting in place a ban on ships flying the Malvinas Islands’ flag from docking at their ports.

"There is definite preocupation over the countries that have supported this decision," stated Benjamin in an interview with local press today.

Chile supported the decision made on December 20 at the Mercosur Summit in Montevideo, where leaders declared their solidarity with Argentina over the long-disputed claim for sovereignty of the islands.

The British Ambassador to Chile further stated that “it looks like a type of economic blockade on the islands and the small civil and innocent population that lives there.”

Chilean Government spokesman, Andrés Chadwick was asked by the press as to whether there existed some sort of upheaval between the country and the British Government, to which he replied, “We have not had one complaint from the British Embassy in Chile or from the British Government.”

Argentina and Britain have been at odds over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands for years, but have recently entered further crossfire due to the present governments publically pressing harder on the issue.