A new diplomatic row between Argentina and United Kingdom over the disputed Malvinas Islands was sparked today after the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office summoned Argentine Ambassador to London Alicia Castro to discuss recent statements made by president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner regarding the increasing militarization of the Malvinas Islands, read by London media as «threats.»
A spokesperson told the BuenosAiresHerald.com this morning: “The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands and surrounding maritime areas, nor about the Falkland (Malvinas) Islanders’ right to decide their own future. We object strongly to recent statements by the Argentine President and the Argentine Ambassador to London and so summoned the Ambassador to account for these.”
The meeting was held yesterday afternoon in London, sources from the Argentine Embassy in London told Herald.com.
Later, Deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Zuain summoned UK Ambassador to Argentina John Freeman, “to demand explanations over the silence of the British government after Edward Snowden’s revelations over massive electronic espionage against Argentina.” According to Snowden’s report, spying actions were carried out amid an increasing pressure by the international community for both nations to resolve the Malvinas dispute once and for all.
Furthermore, Zuain notified Mr. Freeman that the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Planning Ministry would file a complaint today against oil companies who have begun drilling activities in the Argentine continental shelf violating a local law and United Nations resolutions, a statement released today by the Foreign Ministry stressed.
Defense Minister Daniel Filmus this afternoon confirmed the national government has effectively taken legal actions against oil companies conducting drilling activities off the coast of the Malvinas Islands. The companies are: Rockhopper Exploration plc, Premier Oil plc, Falkland Oil And Gas Limited, Noble Energy Inc. and Edison International SpA.
buenosairesherald.com