On 10 June, the Argentine Republic marks another anniversary of the
creation in 1829 of the Political and Military Commandancy for the
Malvinas Islands and the islands adjacent to Cape Horn by the then
Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, D. Martin Rodriguez.

Since its independence from Spain, Argentina, having inherited the
Spanish territories in the south of the continent -including the
Malvinas Islands and the other islands in the South Atlantic-, exercised
its rights uninterruptedly, proceeding to enact legislation and
establishing legal and administrative bodies to consolidate its
sovereignty, promoting the development of trade, settling population and
establishing a local administrative office. The culmination of this
process was the issuance of the Decree establishing the Civic and
Military Commandancy of the Malvinas Islands on the date we commemorate
today, with Luis Vernet being appointed as Commander.

On 3 January 1833, the United Kingdom violated the integrity of theArgentine territory and illegally occupied the islands, removing by
force both the population and the legitimate Argentine authorities that
had settled there. Since then, the islands have been subject to a
sovereignty dispute between the two countries, recognized by the United
Nations through UNGA Resolution 2065 (XX), as well as by several
regional and multilateral fora.

Recovering full Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgias
and South Sandwich Islands, as well as over the surrounding maritime
areas, while respecting the lifestyle of the islanders and in accordance
with international law, is a permanent and unrenounceable goal of the
Argentine people, as established in the First Temporary Provision of the
Argentine Constitution.

Based on this mandate, the Argentine Republic reiterates its invitation
to the United Kingdom to resume negotiations on the Question of the
Malvinas Islands, as set forth by resolutions 2065 (XX), 37/9, and other
relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, while calling for the
suspension of unilateral activities in the area under dispute, as
established in resolution 31/49.

In this spirit, the Argentine Government reiterates its full willingness
to engage in an open dialogue with the United Kingdom, as well as to
strengthen bilateral relations in order to identify possible areas of
cooperation in the South Atlantic.

The Argentine Government reaffirms once again the imprescriptible
sovereignty rights of the Argentine Republic over the Malvinas, South
Georgias and South Sandwich islands, as well as over the surrounding
maritime areas, all of which are an integral part of the Argentine
territory.