Seventy-first session
Agenda item 43
Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Letter dated 14 October 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 43, concerning the question of the Malvinas Islands.
(Signed) Martín García Moritán
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
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Annex to the letter dated 14 October 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations
addressed to the Secretary-General
I have the honour to refer to the unlawful military exercises to be conducted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the area of the Malvinas Islands between 19 and 28 October 2016, which will include the launch of Rapier missiles.
As you are aware, the Argentine Republic has repeatedly expressed to the international community its concern regarding British military deployments in the Malvinas Islands. This situation is creating unnecessary and unjustified tension in the South Atlantic, which has been declared a zone of peace by the legitimate littoral States of this ocean.
The conduct of these military exercises in Argentine territory unlawfully occupied by the United Kingdom is contrary to numerous United Nations resolutions that urge the two countries to resume negotiations, in order to find a peaceful and definitive solution to this protracted sovereignty dispute.
The persistence of the United Kingdom in carrying out military manoeuvres in the South Atlantic is in violation, especially, of General Assembly resolution 31/49, which calls upon the two parties to refrain from introducing unilateral modifications in the situation while the negotiating process recommended by that Assembly proceeds, and runs counter to the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, unanimously supported by the countries of the region and reflected in the rejection of such military activity, as highlighted in the declarations of the States members of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
This new unilateral action on the part of the United Kingdom not only contrasts with the permanent willingness of the Argentine Republic to settle the sovereignty dispute by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, but also jeopardizes the development of a constructive dialogue to improve cooperation on all South Atlantic issues of mutual interest, as expressed in the joint communiqué issued by both Governments on 13 September 2016.
The Argentine Republic reaffirms its sovereignty rights over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, which form an integral part of its national territory. It once again reiterates its permanent and constant willingness to negotiate, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, and requests that the present note be circulated among the States Members of the Organization.
(Signed) Carlos M. Foradori
Ambassador
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
