Argentina’s FM asks UN chief to help resolve dispute with Britain over the Falklands
By APWednesday, February 24, 2010
Eds: Argentina seeks UN help on Falklands
UNITED NATIONS — Argentina’s foreign minister says he asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue his efforts to resolve a dispute with Britain over their competing claims to a vast swath of the southern Atlantic Ocean where Britain has begun drilling for oil.
Jorge Taiana told reporters after a meeting Wednesday with Ban that the U.N. chief was not happy to learn that the situation is worsening because of Britain’s decision to start drilling and is willing to continue his “good offices” mission.
The U.N. General Assembly called for Argentina and Britain to negotiate sovereignty over the islands following a brief 1982 war for control over the islands.
Britain has occupied the islands, which it calls the Falklands, since the early 1800s and has ruled out any concessions.
Taiana insisted Wednesday that the islands, which it calls the Malvinas, are part of Argentine territory and that the population, which strongly favors retaining ties to Britain, does not have the unilateral right to decide what they want to be.
