On 3 January 1833, the Malvinas Islands, an integral part of the Argentine national territory, were illegally occupied by military forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Argentine Republic, since the beginning of its existence as an independent country, expressed through government acts its strong determination to recover effective sovereignty over the archipelagos and maritime areas in the South Atlantic as the legitimate heir of Spain. This exercise of sovereignty was interrupted 186 years ago as a result of the British occupation, an act which was immediately protested at and never consented to by Argentina.
Recovering the full exercise of Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgias, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, while respecting the way of life of the islanders and in accordance with international law, is a permanent and unrenounceable goal of the Argentine people, as enshrined in the Argentine Constitution.
The United Nations recognizes the existence of a colonial situation in the Malvinas Islands, which are subject to a sovereignty dispute that must be solved through bilateral negotiations between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom, taking into account the interests of the population of the islands.
The Argentine Republic continues to receive the support of the region's countries for its sovereign rights concerning the Malvinas Question, both at the bilateral level and at various regional fora. Other multilateral fora, such as the OAS, G77 + China and the Ibero-American Summit. have requested the resumption of negotiations.
The Argentine Government has expressed its willingness to resume negotiations in order to find a lasting solution to the sovereignty dispute and to continue working to create a favourable trust environment for it.
On this date of great significance to our country, the Argentine Government and people once again reaffirm their legitimate and imprescriptible sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgias, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas.
Press Release No. 001/19
