UNASUR reaffirms backing for Argentina over Malvinas sovereignty

Foreign ministers that form part of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) reaffirmed their support for Argentina over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands today at the annual meeting held in Asunción, and approved payments for a consolidation fund for the new South American bloc.

Closing with two final statements, one in particular over the sovereignty of the Malvinas islands, the bloc insisted the UK government renew negotiation talks with Argentina. The summit for foreign ministers was being held at the same time as the meeting for UNASUR economic ministers in Montevideo.

The ministers regretted the fact that the “de-colonialist mandate” put forward by the United Nations in successive resolutions since 1965 had still not been met and that the British military still had control over the islands

In addition, the foreign ministers praised Argentina’s willingness to negotiate “a peaceful and definitive solution” to this “anachronistic and colonial situation taking place on American soil.” Thus, a plea to the United Kingdom to “resume negotiations with the objective of putting an end to the dispute as soon as possible,” was made over the group of islands, which have been under British sovereignty since 1833.

The Union of South American Nations, created in 2008, is made up of 12 countries in the region, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, Perú, Surinam, Venezuela, Ecuador and Uruguay. The foreign ministers of Ecuador and Uruguay, however, did not attend the summit in Asunción and were represented by other diplomats.