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Argentina Complains To UK About Falklands Military Exercises
Argentina has complained to the British ambassador in Buenos Aires over military exercises the UK is planning to hold in the Falkland Islands.
British troops are deployed in the Falklands for exercises involving Rapier missiles between October 19 and October 28.
Argentina's Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra (pictured above with President Mauricio Macri) is quoted by the Express newspaper as saying:
"It [the exercise] causes pain and deep anxiety because it carries a presumption of a conflict hypothesis."
"These exercises are a reiteration of a practice that is held every year. It is not new, but it is serious because Argentina has established in its constitution to make claims within the frame of international law."
"We will see if we can start dialogue to eliminate presumptions of conflict."
Deputy foreign minister Carlos Foradori wrote "a strong note of protest" to UK Ambassador Mark Kent expressing the Argentina's "displeasure" at the situation, and threatening to "inform the Secretary General of the United Nations of the situation." He wrote:
"I want to send a message to the UK. Leopoldo Galtieri [leader at the time of the Falklands War] is no longer President of Argentina.
"Argentina has a president named Mauricio Macri who uses persuasion as a weapon and is open to dialogue."
It comes just over a month after Britain and Argentina agreed to an improved relationship, with closer co-operation in areas including trade and security.
When asked whether the exercise would affect this development, Mr Foradori said "the two sides continue in the same situation." He added:
"We have reiterated in Congress that the statement is a roadmap. This does not alter our position."
The two countries went to war over 10 weeks in 1982 over the Falkland Islands' sovereignty.
Cover photo courtesy of Elza Fiuza/Agência Brasil.
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