Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero announced today end of the Foradori-Duncan pacta document signed by Mauricio Macri’s government granting concessions to British interests in relation to the exploitation of natural resources in Falkland Islands and flights inland from the islands.

As reported by Palace of San Martinin a meeting of foreign ministers of G-20 member countries which took place in New Delhi, India, Cafiero told his British counterpart, the Government’s decision to cancel this agreement was signed in 2016 at the British embassy in Buenos Aires.

Besides that, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed that the two countries hold a meeting at the UN headquarters, in New York, to “restart discussions on sovereignty”. South Atlantic islands occupied by the United Kingdom since 1833.

It was signed by the then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina Carlos Foradori and the British Minister of State for Europe and America, Alan Duncan. Chancellor described the pact as “one of the most damaging events for the historic claim to exercise sovereignty over the Malvinas Archipelago”.

What is the Foradori-Duncan pact

In a statement, the Foreign Office stated that the pact made “concessions to British interests in the region and backs down significantly in its fair claim of sovereignty, It was even known as a “joint communiqué” to avoid compliance with constitutional obligations to submit international treaties signed by the Executive Branch for approval by the National Congress.“.

In terms of natural resources, the statement stated that it had been agreed “remove all obstacles that limit economic growth and sustainable development in the Malvinas Islands”.

Regarding flights, The statement stated that the parties had “agreed that an additional air link between the Malvinas Islands and a third country would be established.”. This decision contradicts the position of Argentina, which is promoting a second flight from the mainland via Aerolíneas Argentinas.

The agreement also means “the repeal of all administrative, legislative and judicial measures which have been taken by the Republic of Argentina to protect its natural resources from illegal fishing and hydrocarbon exploitation.”

Controversy during the signing of the pact

In the middle of last year, the Foreign Office started an investigation into Foradori after the former British Foreign Secretary published his autobiography, in which it stated that, At the time of signing the Malvinas Islands agreement, the Argentine official was drunk.

In his memoirs, Duncan relates that on September 12, 2016, he met with the new British ambassador to Argentina, Mark Kent, to seal the deal. “Beneath the embassy residence is a magnificent cellar, very bright, with walls lined with merlot bottlesDuncan wrote.

“The arrangements were quite good for the meeting and we met there with Carlos Foradori, Deputy Foreign Minister.” And continued: “It was a great diplomatic backdrop for the delicate negotiations to secure additional flights to the Falklands; For a million reasons, Argentina’s cooperation is necessary for any connection across the mainland.”

“As one by one the bottles were moved from the cellar wall to the table, the negotiations improved.. Around 2 a.m. we shook hands in general agreement,” Duncan said.

The next day, he added: “Mark Kent said Foradori just called to say he was so drunk last night he couldn’t remember all the details. Like a true Englishman, Mark reminded him of what he had agreed to, faithfully and unadorned. So I think we’re still on the right track.”