193 years on from the illegitimate occupation of the Malvinas Islands, the Argentine government and people once again reaffirm their legitimate and imprescriptible sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas.
On 3 January 1833, British forces occupied the Malvinas Islands in violation of Argentina s territorial integrity, ousting the lawfully-settled Argentine authorities and population and replacing them with British subjects. Such act, conducted in times of peace and in contravention of international law, has never been consented to by the Argentine Republic, which raised immediate diplomatic protests and has maintained them ever since.
The United Nations General Assembly recognized this sovereignty dispute under Resolution 2065 (XX), urging Argentina and the United Kingdom to find a solution through bilateral negotiations, the principle of self-determination not being applicable. Such call has been reiterated at numerous international and regional fora.
This year will also mark the 50th anniversary of the General Assembly s adoption of Resolution 31/49, calling upon both parties to refrain from making decisions that would entail introducing unilateral modifications in this situation.
However, the United Kingdom persists in refusing to negotiate and conducting actions in the disputed area, including the illegal and illegitimate granting of licences to exploit natural resources, namely fisheries and hydrocarbons.
The Argentine government once again expresses its strongest rejection of the United Kingdom s unilateral activities in areas subject to a sovereignty dispute and reserves its rights to fully exercise all available actions to prevent their conduct, protect its natural resources and safeguard its sovereign rights.
The Argentine Republic reiterates its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom in order to reach a peaceful resolution to this sovereignty dispute and put an end to the special and particular colonial situation of the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas.
