Cristina: “I asked the pope to intervene in order to achieve a dialogue with the United Kingdom over Malvinas”

 

March 18, 2012

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner asked the pope Francis to intervene in order to achieve dialogue between UK and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

“We are calling for dialogue and we have asked the pope Francis to intercede between the UK and Argentina to have dialogue,” said the president, who recalled the intervention of Pope John Paul II to avoid war between Argentina and Chile by Channel Beagle.

“Now we face a historic opportunity. Both countries have democratic governments and there is no danger of any kind of war, beyond the militarization in the South Atlantic,” the president said.

In addition, Cristina revealed that she was impressed when Francis spoke of the “Patria Grande”, referring to Latin America, as this term was used by the liberators Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar.

The president said the pope also highlighted the work of the leaders of the region to achieve the unity of Latin America.

Other topics at the luncheon were the trafficking and enslavement of people in general.

Finally, the president expressed his impression about Francis: “I saw him serene, safe, peaceful, quiet and busy and worried about what will be the daunting task of leading the Vatican and the things he knows he has to change.”