'Mercosur members reconfirmed agreed policies over Malvinas,' Timerman

Following Hague’s comments, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry Héctor timerman issued a press release claiming that Mercosur members had reconfirmed to him their decision to bar malvinas ships from entering their ports and that the United Kingdom "admitted the obstacle of using the illegal flag of the Malvinas put in place by ports in the region."

Hague had assured he was “happy” after Brazil, Chile and Uruguay “decided not to take part in a economic blockade on the Malvinas Islands.

But Timerman counter attacked and assured that the Latin American Mercosur trade bloc, including all of the previously mentioned countries, had reconfirmed to him their joint decision to bar Malvinas ships from entering their ports made during a meeting of the group in Uruguay in Decemberlast year.

Likewise, the press release indicates that “UK’s Foreign Secretary William Hague admitted before his country’s parliament that ships flying the illegal Malvinas flag could not dock at ports in countries belonging to the Mercosur,” said the official statement released yesterday in Buenos Aires with the interpretation of the calls made by Hague.

Argentina’s Foreign Ministry also denied that the actions were related to an economic blockade, but instead were put in place in “defence of the renewable and non-renewable resources that belong to the Argentine people that, along with other countries, is recognized by all the nations in the region.”

"We have had productive and honest discussions with Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. All three countries have said that they have no intention of participating in an economic blockade of the Malvinas Islands and that all Malvinas-related commercial shipping will continue to enjoy access to their ports, in accordance with domestic and international law, if they are flying the Red Ensign or another national flag when docked,” Hague said in a written statement

According to several international media outlets Hague made his statement before the MPs to update them on the continuing negotiations over the Christmas holidays.

Hague assured that after the Uruguayan decision to block any ship flying the Malvinas Islands flag from docking in its ports, the British response had been “justifiably robust.”

He also confirmed that he summoned the Uruguayan ambassador in London and called the Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro twice to express Great Britain’s “concern” over the matter.

Hague also said that he instructed British ambassadors in the region to call the governments of the countries where they were residing to express their “strong objection to the Mercosur’s statement.”

"Whilst we do not accept that the decision to refuse entry to vessels flying the Malvinas flag has any basis in international law, our priority has been to ensure that the trade and commercial links between the Malvinas and South America are not compromised by this political declaration.

According to London, the Mercosur’s decision was "inconsistent" with the principles of the United Nations charter, and said efforts by the local government to disrupt shipping links to the islands were "unjustified and counterproductive".

But Mr Hague said ministers did not want the UK to cut its ties in the region, as it had "considerable political, economic and security interests", while there was "high potential for future economic growth through partnership with Latin America".

Mr Hague assured that British ministers did not want Great Britain to cut ties in the region, since it has "considerable political, economic and security interests", while there was "high potential for future economic growth through partnership with Latin America."

"I hope that others in the region will continue to recognize that differences of opinion over UK sovereignty of the Falkland Islands cannot justify collusion in efforts to intimidate an innocent civilian population through economic pressure,” he concluded.