Boudou praises regional support for Malvinas sovereignty claim

Vice-President Amado Boudou praised the immediate support expressed by several countries in the region in the bilateral conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas Islands sovereignty.

 “We were dumbfounded yesterday as we heard the Prime Minister’s statements. We listened to the unashamed use of the word ‘colonialism’ aimed at a Latin American country,” he said in a ceremony in Mar del Plata.

Boudou said that colonialism “is a word that has caused so much damage and pain, not only in Latin America, but also in Asia and Africa. It’s a word that still nowadays carries the unmistakable face of exclusion, of semi-colonial democracies that have been held in many countries for centuries.” 

In his message, he also remembered the many people lost in the war “who became heroes after leaving their blood” in the battlefield, while others “became heroes after they returned to their country to work hard with their families.”

The Vice-President said that “after such an outburst, we should not be surprised by the response” of countries in the region. 

“This isn’t coincidence,” he continued, “this is the result of having a clear and persistent foreign policy, which was spearheaded by Néstor and Cristina Kirchner.”

After learning of David Cameron’s controversial statements, Brazil, Venezuela and Uruguay ratified their support over Argentina’s sovereignty claim. 

“Things don’t just happen by chance. Argentina has a foreign policy and a place in the world. These are the results,” Boudou concluded.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman assured that Argentina’s strategy on the sovereignty claim “is working” and added that “the only way for England to get out of this mess is through direct negotiations with Argentina.”

“Not even English newspapers are supporting Cameron,” Timerman said on a radio interview, explaining that “the only way for England to get out of this mess is through direct negotiations with Argentina.” 

“This proves that the Argentine strategy is working out. We’ve gathered much regional support and commitment from international organizations,” the minister said from El Salvador, one of the Central American countries that are part of his current tour.

“I have no doubt that Argentina is looking for a civilized and peaceful solution through negotiations,” he stated and assured that the local Government “will not reply to any of Cameron’s military-toned affronts.” 

Timerman cited English newspapers as proof of Cameron’s lack of support.

“Not even the conservative ‘The Times’ supports Cameron. They say he is heading the wrong strategy and that what he’s doing is unreal,” he explained. 

He closed by once again ratifying that Argentina “believes in the peaceful resolution of conflicts” and urged the United Kingdom to “pick up the phone and give (UN Secretary General) Ban Kim Moon a call” who every year urges both nations to sit down and negotiate.

His statements were made in response to the news that British intelligent services had warned Prime Minister David Cameron that Argentina was planning an alleged “phony fishermen’s invasion” to the islands on the 30th anniversary of the Malvinas War.