Argentina wants Rio support for Falklands resolution

The head of the Argentine mission here for the Rio Group Meeting says that support should be given to Haiti in its struggle for democracy, and he called for the region’s backing for a resolution to Argentina’s age-old dispute with the United Kingdom over Islas Malvinas – the Falkland Islands.

Speaking at the National Cultural Centre last night, Jorge Taiana said that Argentina urged a renewal of the negotiation for a peaceful resolution to the issue. He acknowledged that the Organisation of American States has been instrumental in this process so far. Britain recaptured the Falklands from Argentina in a bloody war in 1982.

Taiana, Argentina’s Foreign Minister, said too that there is an essential question of the promotion and defence of democracy in the region. In this light, he also called for the region to show solidarity with the fight for democracy in Haiti and asked for the region’s support for this nation.

He said that the Rio Group should look towards the future and follow the times with greater efficiency. And he said that the agenda in the region is sufficient for the urgent transformation of the entire continent for peace and social justice. He said that the Rio Group must serve as an example so that new opportunities could be taken advantage of.

On behalf of Argentine President Nestor Kirchner he thanked the Government and people of Guyana for hosting the 19th Meeting of the Rio Group.