CARACAS, Feb 20 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — President Hugo Chavez warned on Friday that Britain is insisting on occupying the Falkland Islands because of the existence of oil and gas there, and defended the right to strengthen the defense to protect Venezuela”s hydrocarbon riches.

In a TV broadcast address, Chavez wondered how much longer the European state will try to keep the territory in violation of international law and of basic principles of geography, time and history.

Get out of there, return the Falkland Islands to the Argentinean people, enough with the Empire, said Chavez, who explained that a decree issued by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez restricts the rights assumed by the old British Empire.

The English fleet deployed to the Falklands in 1982 was aware of what it was doing: there is oil and gas there. Think about it, we, having the largest reserve in the world while the United States running out of reserves and desperate, he added.

Meanwhile, Argentine deputies have rejected the unilateral decision of British companies to explore for oil in the Falklands and called for a solution through a diplomatic dialogue.

The legislators will soon take a position on this new chapter of the conflict, indicated the official of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Lower House Alfredo Atanasof at the end of a meeting with vice foreign minister Victorio Tacceti.

Argentina claims its rights of sovereignty over the Falklands, and went to war with Great Britain in the mid 1980′s over these islands in the Southern Atlantic.

In the meeting behind closed doors the deputies of the ruling party and the opposition agreed on a strategy taken by the Argentine government against the unilateral actions promoted by Great Britain in these islands in the southern Atlantic.

According to Telam news agency, the head of the Cabinet of the Foreign Ministry, Alberto D. Alotto, said the discusion was extensive, positive and constructive.

One of the main objectives of the talks referred to the scope of Decree 256 signed by President Cristina Fernandez who regulates navigation in the Falklands region.

These regulations aim to prevent supply of the islands from the continent forcing shipping to take longer voyages around, explained Tacceti.

At the end of the meeting Tacceti told the press that the action taken by the United Kingdom is considered “a unilateral aggression and subjugation.”

The Argentine government has strongly protested all unilateral British actions through which that country has intended to explore or exploit natural resources in national territory in an area under dispute of sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Also, since 2007 it announced that it would penalize companies that make contracts with others involved in oil activities in the continental platform without permission issued by the competent authority. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA

Source: Prensa Latina via Inside Brunei fm