Americas News

UN urges peaceful resolution of dispute over Falkland Islands

Feb 10, 2012, 17:33 GMT

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged Argentina and Britain to avoid escalating their dispute over the Falkland Islands and seek a peaceful resolution instead.

Ban met with Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, who visited the United Nations headquarters in New York to complain about what his government calls the 'militarization of the South Atlantic' by Britain.

Timerman was to meet later with the president of the UN Security Council to present to complaint.

Ban said in a statement following discussion with Timerman that he was concerned by recent developments and the 'strong exchanges' between London and Buenos Aires related to the Falklands, which Argentina calls Islas Malvinas.

Ban offered his good offices to resolve the dispute, 'if both countries request it.'

Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falklands 30 years ago in April.

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