The presidents of the countries of MERCOSUR and the Associate States expressed a strong support for Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas and recognized the right of our country to “take legal action” against “unauthorized activities” of “exploitation of natural resources” in the archipelago area, in the framework of the 57th Summit of Heads of State, which was held by videoconference and in which Uruguay passed the Pro Tempore Presidency to Argentina.
Last December 16th the presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, Brasil, Jair Bolsonaro, Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou (States Parties), Bolivia, Luis Arce, and the authorities of the Associate States adopted a Joint Communiqué during the 57th Summit of MERCOSUR in which they “reaffirmed the terms of the Declaration of the presidents of the MERCOSUR States Parties, the Republic of Bolivia and the Republic of Chile, signed on June 25, 1996 in Potrero de los Funes, Argentine Republic, known as ‘Malvinas Declaration’, and reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute concerning the Question of the Malvinas Islands”.
In addition, “they highlighted that the adoption of unilateral measures, including the exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources in the disputed area is incompatible with what was agreed in the United Nations, and recognized the right of the Argentina Republic to take legal action, in compliance with international law, against unauthorized activities in the mentioned area”.
Moreover, “they recalled the regional interest that the protracted sovereignty dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas reach, as soon as possible, a solution in accordance with the pertinent resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the declarations by the Organization of American States, MERCOSUR, and other regional and multilateral forums”.
During his intervention in the Summit of Heads of State, president Alberto Fernández, -accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Santiago Cafiero; the Minister of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship, Felipe Solá; and the Ambassador of Argentina in Uruguay, Alberto Iribarne- stated: “Dear presidents of MERCOSUR, dear people of America, I want to thank you for your most valuable expression of fraternity over the legitimate claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. It is a great display of everything that unites us as a common horizon, not only of the past but also the present and future”.
The Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic, Daniel Filmus, underlined “the continuous support of MERCOSUR brother countries on the Malvinas Question”, and stressed that “this support has to do with the defense of the sovereignty over the natural resources in illegally occupied South Atlantic areas.
“Today marks the 55th anniversary of the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2065, in which all the countries in the world agreed that Argentina and the United Kingdom should resume the dialogue to solve the Question of the Malvinas Islands. What MERCOSUR presidents have asked is to comply with this resolution” said Filmus.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2065, adopted on December 16, 1965 by a large majority and no negative votes, formally and expressly recognized the existence of a sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, calling Argentina and the United Kingdom to find a peaceful solution through bilateral negotiations.
