Argentina condemns British militarism in the Malvinas

March 28, 2015
Issue 

The Argentine government urged the British government to return to the negotiating table over the Malvinas Islands on March 25, TeleSUR English said.

It comes in response to a planned “beef up” of British military presence on the disputed islands off the coast of South America that Britain occupies.

In a statement, Argentina's foreign ministry described Britain's “growing militarisation” of the disputed islands as “absolutely unjustifiable”.

The ministry said: “These substantial funds should be used to benefit the British people, to fight unemployment, improve education and health and deepen social inclusion.”

The statement was in response to a planned US$417 million rise in funding to military installations on the islands.

Known to the British as the Falklands, the Malvinas Islands have been held by Britain since 1833 when British warships seized the archipelago. Argentina has long disputed British claims to the islands.

Despite more than 40 United Nations resolutions calling on Britain to join Argentina at the negotiating table, Britain refuses to hold talks to resolve the dispute.

Argentina's foreign ministry said it “believes that the best way to start this dialogue is facing the need to end all vestiges of colonialism in our continent”.

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