Thursday 23 June, 2016
Información para la Prensa N°:193/16
Today, Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra headed the Argentine delegation that participated in the session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization in New York City, specifically gathered to discuss the Question of the Malvinas Islands, which unanimously approved, with no objections, a resolution that urges Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume bilateral negotiations.
Malcorra was joined, among other members of the Argentine delegation, by Federico Pinedo, President Pro Tempore of the Argentine Senate; Julio Cobos, Argentine Senator; Rosana Bertone, Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands, and members of the Argentine Congress representing different political parties.
"I have the honour to address the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations for the first time as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic," Malcorra stated, and acknowledged "the constant efforts made by the Committee to end colonialism in all its forms and expressions."
Malcorra underscored the fact that "The passing of time has not eroded the validity of our claim or the strength of our conviction that this protracted sovereignty dispute should be solved through negotiations between the two parties involved. The issue transcends Governments and constitutes a State policy on which all the political forces of my country agree. This is demonstrated by the fact that I am accompanied today by representatives of different political parties."
"Argentina and the United Kingdom have traditionally had a rich and mutually beneficial relationship. President Macri has already mentioned his will to start a new chapter in the bilateral relation and he has met with Primer Minister David Cameron twice. In turn, I have recently met with the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philip Hammond, for the first work session between foreign ministers of the two countries in over fourteen years," Foreign Minister Malcorra explained.
In this context, the head of Argentine diplomacy emphasized: "I would like to reiterate before this Special Committee the full willingness of the Argentine Government to resume negotiations with the United Kingdom, in order to find a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute, as stated in the successive relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and this Committee. We expect that the two parties will be able to work creatively and in a spirit of cooperation, addressing each and every issue on the bilateral agenda."
In addition, Malcorra specifically stated: "Within this constructive framework, we urge the Government of the United Kingdom to refrain from taking further unilateral measures in the area under dispute, as required by Resolution 31/49 of the General Assembly and by several multilateral and regional fora."
