Argentina and the United Kingdom have maintained a dispute over the Falklands since the 19th century./ Photo: Leonora Enking
The Diplomat. Madrid
The Spanish Government supports Argentina’s request to find, with the United Kingdom, a solution to the territorial dispute over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), which were taken over by London in the 19th century and whose sovereignty is being dispute by both countries, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Executive joins so the petition of Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spread on 3 January, in which Buenos Aires urges to find “a peaceful and lasting solution” with London to the territorial dispute over the Falkland Islands, whose sovereignty has been disputed by both countries since, in 1883, the British frigate HMS Clio, led by captain James Onslow, took possession of this archipelago located at the South Atlantic.
The statement of Foreign Affairs supports the appeal to find a solution through bilateral relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
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Spain uses Macri’s demand to claim negotiations on the Rock
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In this context and using its particular situation, Spain also reiterates its commitment to start negotiations so that London and Madrid can settle the dispute over the Rock of Gibraltar, a territorial dispute between our country and the United Kingdom that has been ongoing since the signing, in 1713, of the Utrecht Treaty, which meant the cession of property of the enclave of the British part.
Therefore, the statement insists that “just like Argentina, the Spanish Government completely backs the bilateral dialogue with the United Kingdom to find a final solution to both matters affecting the territorial integrity of Argentina and Spain”.
After reading the statement, the Gibraltarian Government issued a note affirming that “the sovereignty of Gibraltar is not a matter for discussion or negotiation with Spain”. It also adds that “the UK has also agreed not to enter into a process of negotiations with Spain with which Gibraltar is not content”.
The Executive led by Fabián Picardo also points out that it “will never consent to the United Kingdom entering into any process of talks, discussions or negotiations with Spain in respect of the sovereignty of Gibraltar”. It ends inviting Spain to “come into the twenty first century” and to “abandon its medieval claim to Gibraltar”.
