Speaking at the end of a regional summit in Mexico Mr Lula criticised the UN for not pushing more forcefully to reopen the debate.

His intervention came ahead of a meeting later today between Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, and the Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana

“Our attitude is one of solidarity with Argentina,” Mr Lula said. “What is the geographical, political and economic explanation for England to be in the Malvinas? What is the explanation for the United Nations never having that decision?

“Could it be because the UK is a permanent member of the UN’s Security Council where they can do everything and the others nothing? It is not possible that Argentina is not the owner while England is, despite being 14,000km away.”

At the Rio Group summit in Mexico yesterday, Buenos Aires won unprecedented support from other Latin American states for its demand that the UK stop drilling for oil in waters near the islands.

The row was sparked by the arrival of the offshore oil rig Ocean Guardian, which began drilling 60 miles north of the islands after Argentina announced new shipping controls. Britain and Argentina fought a two-month war over the islands in 1982.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, insisted yesterday that the exploration was fully within international law although ministers admit privately that the UK has been preparing for a diplomatic confrontation with Argentina for months.

Argentina scored a diplomatic coup at the Rio Group summit in Cancun when 32 Latin American and Caribbean leaders backed their “legitimate rights” in the sovereignty row with Great Britain.

Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan President, used a television address to reiterate his support, bellowing: “Give the Falkland Islands back to Argentina, Queen of England.”

But it was the backing of countries such as Chile and Brazil — which is itself pressing for permanent Security Council membership — that will be of most concern.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina’s President, said that Britain had broken a UN resolution forbidding unilateral development in disputed waters. She accused Britain of double standards in its pursuit of the islands’ natural resources but ruled out any military engagement or attempt to block shipping.

British officials said that Gordon Brown and Mr Miliband would wait for the outcome of events at the UN before deciding how to respond. Diplomats in Latin America believe that President Kirchner is using the issue for domestic purposes. “This is principally a PR campaign, not a serious legal or diplomatic effort,” said one.

The US offered Britain only tepid support. The State Department said that it took no position on the sovereignty claims of either country.

White House officials contacted by The Times would not be quoted on the dispute — not for fear of being drawn into a diplomatic showdown but because, as one admitted, it had barely registered as a concern for the Administration. A generation ago President Reagan was slow to back publicly Britain’s efforts to recapture the islands, but US intelligence proved critical to British military success.

[Times Online]

Latin American and Caribbean leaders have backed Argentina’s claim over the Falklands, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said.

At a regional summit in Cancun, Mexico, a document has reportedly been drafted giving Argentina unanimous support.

It comes a day after a British oil rig began drilling for oil off the islands, a move Argentina formally objected to.

The UK’s defence minister said the government would take whatever steps necessary to protect the Falklands.

Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded the archipelago.

The conflict ended with UK forces wresting back control of the islands, held by Britain since 1833.

No official statement has been made in Cancun, but Mexican President Felipe Calderon reportedly said a document had been drawn up offering Buenos Aires full support in its territorial dispute with London.

The Argentine president accused the British government of ignoring international law by allowing a British oil exploration company to begin drilling near the islands.

She said: “I think the important thing is that we have achieved very strong support, something that legitimates our claims fundamentally against the new petroleum activity.”

The BBC’s Andy Gallacher in Cancun says that any broad agreement at the summit could put more pressure on the British government in what has become an escalating diplomatic row.

‘Return the Malvinas’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reiterated his support for Argentina.

“We demand, and I think all of us should do the same, the withdrawal of the submarine platform, and that the English government… give that land back,” he said.

Before leaving for the summit, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega called for “Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners – to return it to Argentina” on Venezuelan Telesur television.

Leaders at the summit, between the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are also said to have discussed plans for a new pan-American alliance which would exclude Canada and the United States.

The new grouping would serve as an alternative to the Organisation of American States, the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years.

The British rig Ocean Guardian began drilling 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Argentina.

Desire Petroleum, which is carrying out the drilling, said operations had started on the Liz 14/19-A exploration well at 1415 GMT.

Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions.

But UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a “legitimate right” to build an oil industry in its waters.

Mr Rammell said the UK would take “whatever steps necessary” to protect the islands and that it had made Argentina “aware of that”.

Argentina has ruled out military action and is trying to pressure Britain into negotiations on sovereignty.

During the seven-week war in 1982 over the Falklands, 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel were killed.

Last year Argentina submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by the UK.

It is due to raise the issue at the UN later this week.

The Argentine president accused the British government of ignoring international law by allowing a British oil exploration company to begin drilling near the islands.

She said: “I think the important thing is that we have achieved very strong support, something that legitimates our claims fundamentally against the new petroleum activity.”

The BBC’s Andy Gallacher in Cancun says that any broad agreement at the summit could put more pressure on the British government in what has become an escalating diplomatic row.

‘Return the Malvinas’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reiterated his support for Argentina.

“We demand, and I think all of us should do the same, the withdrawal of the submarine platform, and that the English government… give that land back,” he said.

Before leaving for the summit, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega called for “Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners – to return it to Argentina” on Venezuelan Telesur television.

Leaders at the summit, between the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are also said to have discussed plans for a new pan-American alliance which would exclude Canada and the United States.

The new grouping would serve as an alternative to the Organisation of American States, the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years.

The British rig Ocean Guardian began drilling 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Argentina.

Desire Petroleum, which is carrying out the drilling, said operations had started on the Liz 14/19-A exploration well at 1415 GMT.

Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions.

But UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a “legitimate right” to build an oil industry in its waters.

Mr Rammell said the UK would take “whatever steps necessary” to protect the islands and that it had made Argentina “aware of that”.

Argentina has ruled out military action and is trying to pressure Britain into negotiations on sovereignty.

During the seven-week war in 1982 over the Falklands, 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel were killed.

Last year Argentina submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by the UK.

It is due to raise the issue at the UN later this week.

The Argentine president accused the British government of ignoring international law by allowing a British oil exploration company to begin drilling near the islands.

She said: “I think the important thing is that we have achieved very strong support, something that legitimates our claims fundamentally against the new petroleum activity.”

The BBC’s Andy Gallacher in Cancun says that any broad agreement at the summit could put more pressure on the British government in what has become an escalating diplomatic row.

‘Return the Malvinas’

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reiterated his support for Argentina.

“We demand, and I think all of us should do the same, the withdrawal of the submarine platform, and that the English government… give that land back,” he said.

Before leaving for the summit, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega called for “Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners – to return it to Argentina” on Venezuelan Telesur television.

Leaders at the summit, between the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are also said to have discussed plans for a new pan-American alliance which would exclude Canada and the United States.

The new grouping would serve as an alternative to the Organisation of American States, the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years.

The British rig Ocean Guardian began drilling 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Argentina.

Desire Petroleum, which is carrying out the drilling, said operations had started on the Liz 14/19-A exploration well at 1415 GMT.

Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions.

But UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a “legitimate right” to build an oil industry in its waters.

Mr Rammell said the UK would take “whatever steps necessary” to protect the islands and that it had made Argentina “aware of that”.

Argentina has ruled out military action and is trying to pressure Britain into negotiations on sovereignty.

During the seven-week war in 1982 over the Falklands, 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel were killed.

Last year Argentina submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by the UK.

It is due to raise the issue at the UN later this week.

[BBC News]