Africa’s fifty four countries joined South America “in
recognizing the legitimate sovereignty rights of Argentina over the Malvinas,
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the adjoining maritime spaces”,
announced the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communiqué in
reference to the so called Declaration of Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea.
The African countries position reflected in the Malabo
declaration was born out of the III Summit of South American and African
countries which was held during two days precisely in Malabo.
The declaration also includes Argentina’s
claim condemning hedge funds (‘vulture funds’) and measures to promote
cooperation South to South programs and projects among the two regions.
The Argentine ministry in the release underlines that the
“document is a diplomatic victory for our country since it is the first time that
the whole of Africa joins our continent in declaring legitimate the rights of
the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands”.
The declaration also calls on “the UK
to resume negotiations with Argentina
for a fair, peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute, as soon as
possible and in conformity with the relevant resolutions from the UN and other
regional and international organizations”
Foreign minister Hector Timerman thanked at Equatorial
Guinea the solidarity from the leaders and
Foreign ministers whom participated at the III summit of South America-Africa
(ASA) and pointed out that “Africa is currently a
priority for Argentina’s
foreign policy”.
The statement is supported by the fact that the
administration of President Cristina Fernandez had decided to re-open and open
several diplomatic legations in Africa and specifically
mentioned Ethiopia
and Mozambique.
The first ASA Summit was held in Abuja,
Nigeria, November 30, 2006, while the second,
on Isla Margarita, Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela, September 27, 2009.
Article 26 of the declaration refers to the Falklands:
26. We recognize the legitimate rights of the Argentine
Republic in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias
and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas, and urge the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations
with the Argentine Republic in order to find, as soon as possible, a fair,
peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute, in accordance with the
relevant resolutions of the United Nations and other regional and international
organizations.
Article 58 refers to the ‘vulture funds’:
58. We reiterate that financial reform should aim to
facilitate that investments are channelled to development objectives and not to
speculative activities. We support a reduction in the mechanical dependency on
the Credit Rating Agencies, an increase in their transparency, accountability
and competition amongst them. Furthermore, we recognize the need to tackle tax
havens, which facilitate tax evasion, corruption and criminal activities and
offer an operating base to vulture funds. Finally, we emphasize the need to put
limits to the action of these funds in order to avoid that their behaviour jeopardize
the international financial stability
“in recognizing the legitimate sovereignty rights of Argentina over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the adjoining maritime spaces”
ReplyDeletethe true wording in the declaration is:
“recognize the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute”.
There is a significant differnce in the meaning of the 2 quotes. Not the first time Timmerman et al have changed wordings in declarations to suit the home audience.