Falklands is ‘open wound’
AMBASSADOR SPELLS OUT PASSION STILL FELT IN ARGENTINA OVER WAR
THE memory of the Falklands War is an “open wound” for Argentina, the country’s ambassador to the UK has claimed.
Speaking to mark the 40th anniversary of the conflict, Javier Figueroa said wrangling over the islands’ sovereignty is “ridiculous”, and he compared the situation to the relationship between North Korea and South Korea.
This week marked the anniversary of the sinking of the Argentinian warship General Belgrano after it was torpedoed by the British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror, with the loss of 323 lives.
Mr Figueroa said most young people in the UK have no idea that “Britain has beef with Argentina regarding the South Atlantic”.
The issue of the islands’ sovereignty does not have “high visibility” in the UK, he said, but in Argentina it has “huge visibility in public opinion and the ruling class”.
Mr Figueroa said: “This asymmetry is a problem. In Argentina, the war is still a wound, an open wound. It’s almost 40 years, but in Argentina it’s a deeply emotional issue.
“It’s not only emotional, it is political as well. The Malvinas [Falklands] question is the highest priority of my country in foreign policy.”
He said the issue is like a “monster in a room roaring” when it came to relations between the UK and Argentina, and that he wants to re-engage in negotiations with the UK Government to discuss the islands’ sovereignty.
“It’s unbelievable that after 40 years we have a situation like North Korea/ South Korea in the South Atlantic, which is ridiculous,” he said.
Mr Figueroa referred to a recent poll by charity Help for Heroes which showed the Falklands conflict risks becoming a “forgotten war”, with half of those aged 18-34 not knowing when it was fought, and one in 10 believing the islands are in the English Channel.
“I am completely sure that the new generation [do not] have any idea regarding the war or that Britain has beef with Argentina regarding the South Atlantic,” Mr Figueroa said.
The ambassador says the 40th anniversary of the conflict presents “an opportunity to pay homage for all the people who died in a war that I really believe was almost a stupid war”.
He noted only three civilians died from friendly fire, with both sides fighting in a “very gallant way”.
He said: “Any war is a mistake, I think it’s a tragedy, but there were almost 1,000 lives lost in that war, 600 Argentinian soldiers and servicemen, and 300 or more British soldiers, and I think we have to pay homage for the families.”