Argentina

Six Nobel Peace Laureates sign international request for the Malvinas Islands

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, et al.

26/03/2012

Opinión

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Prime Minister David Cameron
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

We, the undersigned citizens from different countries around the world, committed to world peace, wish to convey our concerns regarding the territorial dispute between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Argentina over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands.

As noted by the President of the Republic of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the Argentine government has requested that your country comply with Resolution 2065, adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly on December 16, 1965, which states:
“Noting the existence of a dispute between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over these islands, we invite the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to proceed without delay with the negotiations recommended by the Special Committee to find a peaceful solution to the problem, with due regard to the provisions and objectives of the UN Charter and Resolution 1514 (XV) of the General Assembly and the interests of the people of the Falkland Islands. ”

This, the highest international body, again spoke to the issue in December, 1973, through UN General Assembly Resolution 3160 (XXVIII) which was approved by a wide margin of votes in favor, and no votes in opposition. This resolution recognized “the continuous efforts of the Argentine government” and declared “the need to accelerate the negotiations provided for in Resolution 2065 (XX) [...] in order to achieve a peaceful resolution of the dispute over sovereignty existing” between the governments of both countries.

Since 1982, the UN General Assembly has continuously renewed the call through the adoption of Resolutions requesting that the two countries sit down and talk. Also, the UN Special Committee on Decolonization annually adopts a resolution which calls on both governments to consolidate the current process of dialogue and cooperation through the resumption of negotiations, in order to find, as soon as possible, a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute.

This call for dialogue and negotiation has also been made, through resolutions and declarations, by various international instances, regional and multilateral organisms, and international fora such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the South American Community of Nations, the Rio Group, the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Statements of Ibero-American Summits, South American Summits, the First South American Energy Summit, Summits of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC), the II South America – Africa Summit, Summits of South American and Arab Countries, Group of 77 and China, among others.

Furthermore, we would like to recall that Latin America and the Caribbean is presently a region of peace and prosperity, while in the rest of the world, many regions suffer from wars that are seriously threatening world peace.

Failure by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to comply with United Nations’ Resolutions, the lack of willingness to talk with a democratic country (Argentina) whose commitment to peace has been clearly demonstrated, the installation, maintenance, and continuos reinforcing of a military base in this continent (the Malvinas Islands), and the undertaking of air and sea military maneuvers, are seriously threatening peace and harmony in this part of the world.

We therefore request that you review the British government’s position of refusing to dialogue on this matter, and that your government comply with United Nations Resolutions calling for the initiation of talks with the Republic of Argentina.