31 May 2016

MERCOSUR condemns UK attempts to usurp Malvinas petroleum resources

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The Presidents of the MERCOSUR States parties and associated States, being aware of the presence of a semi-submersible platform on the Argentine continental shelf that is carrying out hydrocarbon exploration activities that are unauthorized by the Argentine Republic, 

Firmly reject this new unilateral action by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which violates international law and Argentine domestic legislation; 

Recall the ongoing mandate set forth in United Nations General Assembly resolution 31/49, which calls upon both parties in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas to refrain from taking decisions that would imply introducing unilateral modifications in the situation, as such decisions are in no way conducive to the attainment of a definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute, a solution which the international community has called for repeatedly; 

Reaffirm, in particular, the special communiqué on hydrocarbon exploration on the continental shelf, which was approved by the Heads of State and Government at the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit held in Cancún, Mexico, on 23 February 2010, and the commitments made with respect to illegal hydrocarbon and/or mining activities on the Argentine continental shelf, including the sharing of information, and the prevention of the entry into their ports of vessels flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas Islands; 

Ratify the statements of other regional and bi-regional organizations and forums that have taken a position on this question, most recently the Group of 77 and China, the Latin American Energy Organization and the Latin American Integration Association, which expressed the view that the operations carried out by companies not authorized by the Argentine Government in the Malvinas Islands area relating to the exploration for natural resources, especially hydrocarbon resources, were seriously detrimental to the sovereign rights of the Argentine Republic over its continental shelf. Those forums have also recognized the right of the Argentine Republic to take administrative and legal action, with full respect for international law and relevant resolutions, against the unauthorized hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities that the United Kingdom is carrying out in the aforementioned area; 

Take note of the legal action taken by the Argentine Republic against companies involved in unauthorized hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities on the Argentine continental shelf. Asunción, 21 December 2015.


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