The Mercosur Member and Associated States issued a Special Declaration on Tuesday reaffirming their firm support for the legitimate rights of the Argentine Republic in the sovereignty dispute concerning the Malvina Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas. The document was released at the close of the 68th Summit of Presidents held in Paraguay.

The text was signed by the presidents Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Rodrigo Paz Pereira (Bolivia), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Pablo Quirno, representing the Argentine delegation. The highest authorities of the associated countries also added their support, including Presidents José Antonio Kast (Chile) and Daniel Noboa (Ecuador).

The document's central focus is on the unilateral economic activities that the United Kingdom is carrying out in the area. Regional authorities emphasized that "the adoption of unilateral measures, including the exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources in the disputed area, is incompatible with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 31/49 ."

Given this situation, the bloc explicitly recognized the right of the Argentine Republic to pursue appropriate legal action, with full respect for International Law, against unauthorized commercial activities in the disputed region.

On the 61st anniversary of the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 (XX), South American leaders reiterated the "regional interest" in the long-standing dispute reaching a peaceful solution as soon as possible, in accordance with the resolutions of multilateral forums and the Organization of American States (OAS).

To facilitate the claim, the member countries agreed to entrust the Pro Tempore Presidency—assumed this Tuesday by the Eastern Republic of Uruguay—with a new appeal to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The diplomatic mission, headed by the Uruguayan government, will request the renewal of the organization's good offices to resume bilateral negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful resolution.

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