'The war was not a decision made by the Argentine people,' Argentine President

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, the Argentine President delivered a speech at the cenotaph in the recently expanded Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) square In Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego to pay tribute to the 649 Argentines who died during the 1982 invasion and war and all veterans.

“We are here to recognize the brave men that today can show their medals which were won with honor on the battlefield, as well to those young kids who without any proper training gave their lives for this nation and always marched toward the enemy and bravely faced their fears.”

“We are not here to commemorate war. War only brings poverty, violence, and makes things go backwards. Nothing good comes out of war. We just want a more just and peaceful world for everybody.”

However, the Head of State reinforced that idea of the UK being “totally absurd to claim sovereignty over a territory that’s more than 14,000 kilometers from them.”

Likewise, the President echoed the comments made by UK’s Primer Minister Cameron to the British media

“I’ve heard the statements made by the Primer Minister [David Cameron] this morning saying that Argentine forces came to steal the islanders freedom, and I thought “He is obviously not aware that back then, the Argentine people’s freedom was also taken captive by the military Junta. It was a war pushed by a military coup; it was not the Argentine people who decided to go on to war. But since 1983 the people of Argentina chose to be a peaceful and democratic nation.”

Furthermore, the Argentine President emphasized that “No one can say that Argentina does not welcome with open arms people from all over the world. There are only few countries in the world with such an open immigration policy as the Argentina.”(Including Nazi’s S.W.)

To end, the Argentine President revealed that “on Friday I personally sent a letter to the International Red Cross so the UK can collaborate in the identification those dead men from either side that yet remain unidentified as I believe that every mother in this world has the right to mourn their fallen kids.”

Yesterday, the Vice-President participated in a similar ceremony in Río Grande, also in Tierra del Fuego, alongside Cabinet ministers including Interior Minister and Foreign Minister.

Falklands war veterans from across Argentina had arrived yesterday in Ushuaia and Río Grande cities to participate in the vigil.

Carlos Latorre, the head of the Falklands veterans centre, yesterday confirmed that speakers at the ceremony would include the Argentine President, Ushuaia mayor Federico Sciurano and Tierra del Fuego Governor Fabiana Ríos.