Argentina-UK tensions grow ahead of British official’s visit to Malvinas

UK Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne is expected to arrive in the disputed territories the same day that Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be personally attending UN Special Committee on Decolonization to address Malvinas question.

Head of Argentina’s National School of Government Marcelo Koenig considered Mr. Browne’s visit follows British “colonialist” and “war-like” rhetoric.

PM David Cameron’s envoy has accused Argentina of “domineering” behavior condemning its recent decision to start criminal proceedings against five British oil firms that operate in the area. "It is part of trying to frustrate the economic development of the Islands”, he said.

Furthermore, he has refused to hold an official meeting with Argentine foreign minister Hector Timerman arguing that the UK will not discuss the sovereignty of Malvinas Islands “until Islanders so wish”.

Defense of peoples´ right to self-determination, however, has been long questioned by the local government. According to President Fernandez, the dispute over natural resources has been set in the South Atlantic.

Hydrocarbon activities by companies Desire Petroleum, Falkland Oil and Gas, Rock hopper Exploration, Borders and Southern Petroleum, and Argos Resources have been declared “illegal and clandestine” by Argentina’s Energy Secretary.

Meanwhile, Latin American countries have reaffirmed their support to Argentina’s stance at the OAS General Assembly that took place in Bolivia earlier this week, by calling on bilateral negotiations to settle Malvinas controversy.