China backs Argentina's position on Falkland Islands
Chinese support calls at two-day G77 summit for the governments of Argentina and the UK to resume negotiations on 'the Malvinas Islands question'
China has endorsed Argentina's position over the Falkland Islands affirming that the current situation "seriously harms the economic capacity of Argentina".
During the two-day G77 summit held at the weekend in Santa Cruz, Bolivia at which China was a "special invitee", a statement was unanimously approved supporting Argentina's calls for dialogue to solve the "Malvinas Islands question".
"We reaffirm the need for the governments of Argentina and the UK to resume negotiations on the 'Malvinas Islands question' in conformity with the principles and objectives of the United Nations and pertinent resolutions, so as to find a timely, peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute related to the 'Malvinas Islands question'," the statement read.
It stated that the current situation "seriously harms the economic capacity of Argentina" and reaffirmed "the need for both sides to abstain from making decisions that involve the introduction of unilateral modifications to the situation, while the Islands are in the middle of the process recommended by the UN General Assembly".
It is not the first time China has pledged support to Argentina in its claims over the Malvinas, as they are known in Spanish. In return Argentina acknowledges China's sovereignty over the island of Taiwan.
Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner has repeated demands for sovereignty over the Falklands Islands, but Britain is steadfast in its refusal to hold negotiations over the group of islands in the southern Atlantic that it has ruled since 1833.
Argentina invaded the islands in April 1982 prompting a ten-week conflict that cost the lives of 255 British servicemen and more than 600 Argentinians.
In a referendum held in March 2012, 99.8 per cent of the islanders voted in favour of remaining a British Oversees territory.
The G77 which was established in 1964 by 77 developing countries now has 133 nation members and China has been a "special invitee" to the summits since 1981.
No comments:
Post a Comment