Argentina: British nuclear weapons threaten South Atlantic

By JT Nguyen Feb 10, 2012, 21:27 GMT

New York - Argentina Friday denounced Britain for introducing nuclear weapons into the South Atlantic, saying the move threatens the security of the region and Latin American countries.

Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman presented a thick document folder to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as Togo's UN Ambassador Kodjo Menan, president of the UN Security Council. The documents described the alleged British military deployment and included news clippings on the issue.

He asked the UN to find ways to establish a peaceful dialogue with Britain to resolve the dispute.

Timerman said he agreed with Ban's proposal to use his good offices to mediate the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina also claims. Ban said he would ask Britain to agree to the dialogue.

The document presented to the UN said that Britain's nuclear submarine Vanguard, which has the capability to carry nuclear weapons, recently entered the South Atlantic in violation of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which created a nuclear-free zone in the region.

The British government has rejected charges of militarization by Buenos Aires.

British UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that the accusation of militarization was 'manifestly absurd.'

Grant said British military deployment in the South Atlantic since the Falklands war in 1982 with Argentina has been for the protection of British inhabitants of islands in the region.

The document presented by Timerman charged that Britain's deployment of naval vessels and forces into the region, including the arrival of the British royal heir, Prince William, contributed to raising tensions in the region and countries in Latin America.

'The Argentine government has repeatedly stressed that this growing British militarization is contrary to the search (for) a peaceful settlement of the sovereign dispute, constituting an affront to all the region and creating an unnecessary tension in the South Atlantic,' the document said.

Timerman said Argentina wants 'to regain sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands,' using the Spanish name of the islands. But he agreed that the UN should arrange a dialogue with Britain.

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.

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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