Argentina seeks UN Malvinas mediation

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has called on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to mediate to bring the British government to the negotiating table over the disputed Malvinas Islands.

Fernandez, whose country now holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, said in a meeting with Ban that Argentina insists on the UN role to ensure the British accept direct talks over the sovereignty of the South Atlantic islands.

“What we have repeatedly maintained is the need for a rethink on international bodies, and on the capacity they have to be real intermediaries in conflicts. That is what is on the line,” Fernandez said on Monday.

“The secretary-general of the UN has had his services as a mediator repeatedly requested. I have asked again today, but the secretary said that the United Kingdom refuses talks, so it looks difficult to him,” she added.

Britain illegally seized the Malvinas Islands in 1833 and has since refused to leave.

Over the past years, Argentina has repeatedly brought the question of Malvinas, which Britain calls the Falklands, to international forums in a bid to highlight its sovereignty over the region.

Argentina has called for direct talks with the British government to resolve the dispute.

Britain finally accepted talks in February but under the pre-condition that representatives of the Falklands government are also present.

However, Argentina says it will only sit down for negotiations over the territory with the representatives of the British government and without the presence of islanders.

Argentina argues that the islander’s stance does not count as the British Royal Navy has expelled the Argentineans who originally lived on the territory and has replaced them with British settlers.