Argentine envoy urges UK to 'give peace a chance' on Malvinas

Argentina's new ambassador to London tackled Britain's Foreign Minister over the disputed Malvinas Islands by asking him at a public meeting whether he was ready to "give peace a chance" by opening talks on the islands' future.

Alicia Castro, formerly Argentina's ambassador to Venezuela, took up her post in London in March, just as tensions escalated between Britain and Argentina 30 years after they went to war over the South Atlantic islands.

Setting aside diplomatic niceties, Castro tackled British Foreign Secretary William Hague on the subject as he launched Britain's annual world review of human rights at a ceremony attended by diplomats, journalists and rights activists in the opulent surroundings of Lancaster House in London.

"Seeing that the United Nations and the international community and a large group of Nobel prize winners urge both countries to (start) negotiations in order to find a pacific and permanent resolution, my question is: Are you ready for dialogue? Are we going to give peace a chance?" she asked as Hague took questions from the audience.

A flustered Hague, sensing that Castro was about to make a long statement, interrupted her several times, pressing her to ask a question before cutting her short with: "Thank you. That's enough. Stop."

Earlier, Peace Nobel prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel arrived in London to deliver the letter of the seven Peace Nobel winners to UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

The letter urged Cameron to assist to the UN General Assemblies resolutions along with Argentina to reach a pacific solution over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands.

The letter was signed by Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Northern Ireland), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala), Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Jody Williams (US), Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia) and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (Argentina).