Britain today dismissed a fresh demand by Argentina for talks on sovereignty over the disputed Falkland Islands, a British official accompanying British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a meeting in Chile said.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez asked Mr Brown earlier today for negotiations over sovereignty of the disputed Falkland Islands, a day after he said he would not discuss the issue.
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana told reporters Ms Fernandez raised the issue at a bilateral meeting during a pre-G20 warm-up meeting of centre-left leaders in the Chilean coastal resort of Vina del Mar today.
The president stated with great clarity and firmness the need for Britain to do what the United Nations has asked and to hold talks to find a solution to a sovereignty conflict between it and Argentina over the Malvinas," Mr Taiana said, referring to the Spanish name for the islands in the South Atlantic.
Mr Brown said yesterday the sovereignty issue was not up for discussion. Britain seized back the islands in a 1982 war after they were occupied by Argentine forces. Some 649 Argentines and 255 British troops died.
Reuters
