Presidents of MERCOSUR and associated States want resolution of sovereignty dispute over Malvinas Islands

Sixty-eighth session 

United Nations General Assembly

Agenda item 44 

Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

A/68/482

45th Ordinary Meeting of the MERCOSUR Council

 In paragraph 25 of the joint communiqué adopted at that meeting by the MERCOSUR, States parties and associated States, the Presidents: 

“Reaffirmed the terms of the Declaration of the Presidents of the States Parties of MERCOSUR, the Republic of Bolivia and the Republic of Chile, signed on 25 June 1996 in Potrero de los Funes, Argentina, known as the Malvinas Declaration, and reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute concerning the question of the Malvinas Islands. 

Stressed that the adoption of unilateral measures is incompatible with United Nations decisions, and recalled that it is in the interests of the region for the prolonged sovereignty dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas to be resolved as soon as possible, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the declarations of the Organization of American States, MERCOSUR, the Union of South American 

Nations and other regional and multilateral forums. 

Reaffirmed that the military presence of and military exercises conducted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas is contrary to the region’s policy of seeking a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute, and reiterated their rejection of unilateral British activities, including the exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, in the disputed area, while recognizing the right of the Argentine Republic to take appropriate legal action under its 

legislation against unauthorized hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities in that area. 

Reiterated the commitments set out in the Mendoza Declaration of 29 June 2012 concerning the exchange of information between the States parties of MERCOSUR and associated States regarding vessels or naval structures related to the question of the Malvinas Islands."