Special Declaration on the question of the Malvinas Islands
The Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean, gathered in Quito, Ecuador, on the occasion of the fourth Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on 27 January 2016,
1. Reiterate their strongest support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, as well as the abiding interest of the countries of the region in the resumption of negotiations between the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to find, as soon as possible, a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute, pursuant to United Nations General Assembly resolution 2065 (XX) and other relevant resolutions of that body and of the Organization of American States, as expressed by them in the previous declarations of the Rio Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, in particular the Declaration of the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit, held in Riviera Maya, Mexico, on 23 February 2010, which are part of the historical heritage of CELAC;
2. In this context, the Heads of State and Government of CELAC welcome the new initiative to request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to renew his efforts to carry out the mission of good offices entrusted to him by the General Assembly through successive resolutions, with a view to achieving the resumption of negotiations aimed at finding, as soon as possible, a peaceful solution to the above-mentioned dispute, and to inform them of the progress made in the fulfilment of that mission;
3. Furthermore, they reiterate the importance of observing United Nations General Assembly resolution 31/49, which calls upon the two parties to refrain from taking decisions that would imply introducing unilateral modifications in the situation while the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas are going through the process recommended by the General Assembly;
4. They highlight the continuous constructive attitude and willingness of the Argentine Government to reach, by means of negotiations, a peaceful and definitive solution to this anachronistic colonial situation on the soil of the Americas.
Quito, 27 January 2016
