The Organization of American States (OAS) said on Tuesday that
it supported talks between Britain and Argentina to solve the
Malvinas Islands dispute peacefully, according to reports arriving
in Havana from Santo Domingo.
At the OAS general assembly in Santo Domingo, capital of the
Dominican Republic, the organization voted to approve an Argentine
declaration to "continue exploring all possible means to solve the
problem peacefully."
The disputed Malvinas Islands in the southern Atlantic near the
Argentine coast, which are called the Falklands by Britons, were
occupied by British forces in 1833.
Argentina fought a 74-day war with Britain in 1982 over the
sovereignty of the archipelago, leaving 649 Argentine and 255
British soldiers dead. Britain later regained the control of the
islands.
Argentina and Britain "must begin talks about the sovereignty
dispute as soon as possible," the OAS said.
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana quoted the country's
president, Nestor Kirchner, as saying that the Argentine people
were committed to winning back sovereignty of the islands as soon
as possible, and would begin talks, in good faith, with
Britain.
(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2006)
