During the 27th Ibero-American Summit, the countries of the forum reiterated -through a Special Statement on the Question of the Malvinas Islands- their call for the resumption of negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to find a prompt solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgias, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, duly taking into account the resolutions of the United Nations and the Organization of American States, as well as the provisions and objectives of the United Nations Charter, including the principle of territorial integrity.
Regarding the unilateral actions of exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources that the United Kingdom has been carrying out in the disputed area, the Heads of State and Government of the the Ibero-American countries recalled the call of the international community to refrain from adopting decisions that imply unilateral modifications in the situation of the Malvinas Islands, as set forth in United Nations Resolutions.
They also stated, at the Summit that took place last April 21, that the increased military presence in the disputed area is incompatible with the commitment to find a peaceful solution to the territorial dispute between the governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom.
In this sense, they highlighted the different United Nations resolutions that urge the Secretary-General to carry out good offices missions for the resumption of bilateral negotiations, in order to find as soon as possible a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute. Furthermore, they stressed the permanent constructive attitude and disposition of the Argentine Government to reach, through negotiations, a definitive solution to this special and particular colonial situation, as it is defined by the United Nations.
The mentions on this Special Statement regarding the unilateral actions of exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources carried out by the United Kingdom, as well as the increased military presence in the disputed area are matters that were already addressed during the Ibero-American Summit in Veracruz, Mexico (2014), in Panama (2013), in Cadiz (2012), and in Paraguay (2011), gaining further impulse this year.
During the Summit, President Alberto Fernández and Minister of Foreign Affairs Felipe Solá thanked the Ibero-American countries for their support in the Question of the Malvinas Islands and reiterated Argentina’s commitment to dialogue in order to resume, as soon as possible, sovereignty negotiations with the United Kingdom.
The Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Filmus, highlighted “the permanent support of Ibero-American countries to urge the United Kingdom to resume the dialogue to comply with the obligations imposed by international law for a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgias, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas to end a colonial situation that is an anachronism in the twenty-first century”.
FIlmus also underlined the importance that the Heads of State and Government of the the Ibero-American countries have recalled -regarding the unilateral actions of exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources that the United Kingdom has been carrying out- “the call of the international community to refrain from adopting decisions that imply unilateral modifications in the situation of the Malvinas Islands, in line with United Nations resolutions. The Summit also pointed out that “the increase of the military presence in the area under dispute not only violates United Nations resolutions but is also incompatible with the commitment to find a peaceful solution to the territorial dispute between the governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom”.
