Argentina brushed away British diplomatic overtures and accused London of ”arrogance” as the two countries on Monday marked the outbreak of their war over the Falkland Islands 25 years ago.
While British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett voiced ”continuing regret” over the loss of life on both sides of the conflict in the South Atlantic, her Argentinian counterpart condemned what he described as the insensitive military triumphalism of London’s commemorative plans.
”What they want to do is not what [Tony Blair] called a commemoration, but a triumphant military parade, a typical gesture of arrogance,” Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said on Sunday.
His remarks capped a week of Argentine salvos over the Falklands, known here by their Spanish name, the Malvinas.
Argentina unilaterally cancelled a bilateral oil exploration agreement with Britain and announced sanctions against companies exploring in the disputed area.
As much as 60-billion barrels of crude lie in ocean-bed structures around the archipelago.
Britain and Argentina waged a two-month long war after Argentina’s military government, headed by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the remote South Atlantic islands, 480km off its coast, on April 2 1982.
More than 900 people died — including 649 Argentinian and 255 British troops and three islanders — during air, land and sea hostilities.
Twelve thousand kilometres away, Britain’s then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, whose ”Iron Lady” reputation was forged during the crisis, sent in 110 ships and 28 000 military personnel to retake the islands and liberate the about 3 000 inhabitants.
In a statement on the eve of the invasion anniversary, Beckett had stressed London’s commitment to ”constructive” ties with Buenos Aires, and announced an offer for families of dead Argentine soldiers to hold a memorial ceremony on the islands towards the end of the year.
Taiana admitted the war was ”a tragic event and a mistake”, but insisted it did not alter the validity of Argentina’s claims to sovereignty over the Falklands, which date back to the early 19th century.
And he blasted London for what he described as ”its repeated refusal to comply with an international mandate on beginning talks” about the future of the islands.
”There can be no doubt that our demands are peaceful but firm,” Taiana said. ”And being firm means demanding that Britain comply with its international obligations.”
Britain insists that Falklanders first have to vote for the British withdrawal at a referendum, a plebiscite that has yet to take place. The majority of the population of the islands is firmly pro-British.
The two countries re-established diplomatic relations in 1990 but, despite efforts at reconciliation in recent years, ties remain problematic and Argentina rejected an invitation to a joint commemoration service in London to mark the 25th anniversary of the conflict.
In an editorial on Monday, British newspaper the Times said it was time to repair relations that were, at present, ”reasonable but not much more”.
”More exchanges and an end to lingering hostility would bolster the islands’ confidence and prospects,” it said.
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner was expected to attend a commemorative ceremony in the town of Ushuaia, in the south of the country, organised by veterans of the war.
London is remembering the anniversary of the conflict with a series of events in the coming weeks, including exhibitions, veterans’ reunion dinners and church memorials.
Thatcher, now 81 years old and in poor health, is among those taking part in the events, which will climax on June 14, the date in 1982 when Argentina surrendered to Britain. — Sapa-AFP