Jaafari: Syria Supports Argentina Legitimate Rights to Malvinas Islands
NEW York,(ST)_ The Special Committee concerned with the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (C-24) held a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue of (Malvinas Islands ), during which it adopted without vote a draft resolution entitled (the issue of the situation of Malvinas Islands in the presence of Argentina Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Hector Timmerman
Syria ‘s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Bashar Jaafari stressed in Syria ‘s statement before the Committee on decolonization on the issue of Malvinas Islands , Syria’s support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic to Malvinas islands to ensure respect for the principle of Argentina territorial unity , stressing the importance of settling the dispute concerning sovereignty over these islands according to UN General Assembly resolutions and the Special Committee, calling on Britain to implement the Commission’s decisions and engage in a serious dialogue with Argentina in order to resolve the dispute over sovereignty by peaceful means and to deal seriously with the Special Committee (C 24) .
Jaafari said that having 16 Non-Self-Governing districts after nearly 51 years after the establishment of the Special Committee leads us to redouble efforts to promote decolonization which constitutes a humanitarian crime that violates the UN Charter , the Declaration on decolonization and the principles of international law , noting that on this ground the Syrian delegation supported the draft resolution, adopted on the Malvinas Islands .
Syria rejects all unilateral actions carried out by the UK in Malvinas Islands
Jaafari continued that UN resolution 1514 / D 15 sets two important principles : self-determination and territorial integrity , adding that in this regard, Syria has been defending solidly the right of peoples to self-determination but at the same time do not accept that this principle to be used to justify the continued dispute which violates the territorial integrity of Argentina since 1833, explaining that Syria rejects all unilateral actions carried out by the UK in Malvinas Islands which violate UN relevant resolutions and undermine any effort to establish a constructive dialogue with Argentina.
Jaafari renewed Syria ‘s support Syria for Argentina legitimate rights in Malvinas Islands, South Georgia , the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas so as to ensure respect for the principle of territorial integrity of Argentina to be conducive to Argentina’s sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Malvinas to end this form of British colonial settlement in those islands
The need to settle the sovereignty dispute over Malvinas Islands, according to UNGA resolutions
“We reiterate our conviction on the need to resolve the dispute concerning sovereignty over these islands according to UN General Assembly, resolutions, which confirmed that the issue of Malvinas Islands constitutes a specific colonial situation of a sovereign dispute between Argentina and the UK and that the only way to end this conflict is a peaceful solution through negotiation.” Jaafari said
Jaafari indicated that that there are 30 resolutions adopted by consensus on the Malvinas over 31 years none of them has been implemented yet.
Héctor Marcos Timerman, Argentina’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship, said that the United Kingdom’s refusal to engage in dialogue ‑ by fallaciously invoking the principle of self-determination ‑ was contrary to the obligation incumbent upon all United Nations Member States to resolve international disputes peacefully. It also concealed the British military presence in the South Atlantic and its illegitimate appropriation of natural resources. The United Kingdom sought to present itself as the victim of an attempt at dispossession, he said.
He said it was a paradox that the United Kingdom had invoked self-determination against his country when the United Nations had repeatedly defined the Malvinas (Falklands) question as a violation of Argentina’s territorial integrity. The principle of self-determination could not be applied since the islands were not home to a “people” under alien subjugation, domination and exploitation, he emphasized. By not speaking before the Special Committee and withholding cooperation with the Secretary-General’s mission of good offices, the United Kingdom had shown “imperial disdain” and lack of respect for the Special Committee’s mandate, he said.
Argentina was already at the negotiating table, ready to follow requests from the United Nations for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, he continued. The people of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia had expressed themselves many times, and two permanent members of the Security Council, China and the Russian Federation, had also shown their support. Recalling that the General Assembly had requested the Secretary-General to resume his mission of good offices between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom, he said a resolution to the dispute was “hostage in London”.
Introducing the draft resolution, Chile’s representative said it was important for the Latin American and Caribbean nations that the dispute was settled once and for all, as they had repeatedly stated during their meetings.
Several other delegations raised their voices in support of Argentina’s sovereignty claim, with Cuba’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, saying that the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands were an inseparable part of the national territory of its “brother countries in Latin America”. Hence, there was an urgent need to resume negotiations for a peaceful and definitive end to the dispute.
The Russian Federation’s representative called the militarization of the South Atlantic “unacceptable”, saying the region must purge itself of all nuclear weapons. Both parties should refrain from any actions that could impede negotiations, he added.
T. Fateh