Claim To Falklands

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 13

Claim To Falklands

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 13. The Argentine Foreign Minister, Mr Nicanor Costa Mendez, has claimed Britain admitted that Argentina’s sovereignty claims on the Falkland Islands were an essential factor in negotiations on the territory’s future. He said Britain now conceded this point after refusing to discuss it for more

than 100 years, and that the two sides had reached an understanding on “substantial points.” ' In a five-point statement to reporters last night Mr Costa Mendez said the new British attitude towards the controversy was sufficient cause to continue negotiations, urged by the United Nations more than two years ago, on Argentina’s claim on the islands. The statement was aimed at reaffirming the Argentine stand after the Parliamentary comments on the dispute on Wednesday by Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Mr Michael Stewart. The British attitude was also a reason to believe the negotiations would eventually lead to their “logical outcome —the recognition of Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands,” the statement said. But there were still some “important points of disagreement—the United Kingdom insists on conditioning recognition of Argentine sovereignty to the wishes of the island’s population—a condi-

tion which the Argentine Republic cannot accept under any condition,” it added. The statement said this British condition exceeded the terms of the United Nations resolution which led to the talks between the two nations.

Argentina would bear in mind the islanders’ interests and “following its traditional policy on the matter would take them under its wing with the most generous of attitudes,” the statement declared.

The Foreign Minister’s statement said Argentina was prepared to consider the islanders’ interests in a “satisfactory manner” and “trusted the overcoming of their current isolation would be a real benefit for them and their descendants.”

But any negotiations and ensuring agreement should conform to the United Nations resolution. After more than two years of negotiations the two nations have arrived at an understanding on “substantial points,” the statement said.