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Cameron reaction to Argentina FM almost rude: President Kirchner

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner delivering a speech during a ceremony at Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires to commemorate the 205th anniversary of the May Revolution, May 25, 2015. (AFP photo)

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has criticized an “irate” reaction from British Prime Minister David Cameron to Argentinean Foreign Minister Hector Timerman over remarks regarding the disputed Malvinas islands.

On Thursday, Kirchner said during an address outside the Malvinas Museum that Cameron had reacted to comments by Argentinean Foreign Minister Hector Timerman in an “almost rude” manner.

The confrontation between Cameron and Timerman took place during an EU-Latin American summit involving more than 60 countries in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on Wednesday.

According to reports, Timerman had reiterated his country’s claims to the islands. Cameron, who had already finished his comments, responded to the Argentinean minister by saying the islands had the right to self-determination.

President Kirchner said, “In a very angry, almost rude way, he replied or he rebuked our foreign minister, who had only asked that due respect be paid to the charter of the United Nations, which obliges signatory countries of the letter of San Francisco [the UN charter] of that organization that represents the countries of the world, ensuring that the resolution [UN resolution 2065] is carried out.”

The UN resolution 2065 recognizes the existence of a dispute over the islands between the two sides and encourages the parties to reach a peaceful solution.

The two countries fought a deadly war over the tiny south Atlantic archipelago, known as the Falklands in Britain, in 1982. The 74-day conflict left 649 Argentinean soldiers, 255 British soldiers, and three islanders dead.

Located about 300 miles (almost 500 kilometers) off Argentina’s coast and home to about 3,000 inhabitants, the disputed islands have been declared part of the British Overseas Territories since Britain established its colonial rule on the territories in 1833. However, Argentina claims it inherited the islands from Spain when it gained independence.

Tensions have recently been on the rise between the two sides.

SZH/HJL/GHN


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