Argentina demands dialogue with Britain on disputed Islands

The Argentine government demanded once again on Thursday a "dialogue" with Britain on the sovereignty of the disputed Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.

"The Argentine government reiterates once again its full willingness to hold an open dialogue with the United Kingdom, and to strengthen the bilateral relationship for the purpose of identifying possible areas of cooperation in the South Atlantic," the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The Argentine government urged Britain to "resume the negotiations surrounding the issue of the Malvinas Islands," it added.

The disputed Malvinas Islands, known to the British as the Falklands, are an archipelago in the South Atlantic, located off Argentina's coast and currently controlled by Britain.

In the press release, the Argentine government reaffirmed the country's "imprescriptible sovereign rights over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime spaces," saying they are "an integral part of the national territory."

"On June 10, the Argentine Republic commemorates a new anniversary of the creation, in 1829, of the Political and Military Command for the Malvinas Islands and the islands adjacent to Cape Horn by the then Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, D. Martin Rodriguez," said the press release.

The official text said that "since the beginning of its emancipation from Spain, Argentina, in its capacity as heir to the Spanish territories in the south of the continent -- including the Malvinas Islands and the remaining islands in the South Atlantic -- exercised its permanent rights."

Sovereignty dispute over the islands dates back to 1820, when Argentina took over the islands from Spain and stationed troops there. But in 1883 the islands were occupied by Britain, which claimed them as a colony administered by a London-appointed governor.

In 1982, Buenos Aires tried to retake the islands by force, sparking a 74-day Malvinas War that led to the failure of the Argentine forces, with 649 Argentineans, 255 British soldiers and three islanders killed.

Though Argentina and Britain resumed diplomatic relations in February 1990, the dispute over the Malvinas has continued and even exacerbated due to Britain's booming oil exploration in the islands' waters in recent years. Endi