BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Argentine government on Tuesday hailed a proposed bill concerning the disputed Malvinas Islands as a "milestone" in the process of recovering the archipelago and an "unprecedented" step forward on the legal front.
Presidential spokesperson Adrian Ravier made the remarks at a press conference at Casa Rosada, the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, urging lawmakers to consider the bill as soon as possible.
The bill submitted to Congress repeals Law 26.659 and replaces it with a framework that increases criminal penalties for companies or individuals involved in unauthorized hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation on the Argentine continental shelf.
It also redefines national defense as a permanent function of the state to guarantee independence, territorial integrity and the capacity for self-determination in the face of threats.
The bill seeks to provide Argentina with "a comprehensive, permanent, and coordinated regulatory framework" to strengthen its efforts to assert sovereignty over the resource-rich islands, known in Britain as the Falkland Islands, Ravier said.
He added that such a comprehensive legal framework would enable the government to "defend its sovereignty and protect vital and strategic interests," as well as "strengthen its institutional capabilities in the face of threats."
The bill marks a "milestone" in Argentina's efforts to recover not only the Malvinas Islands but also South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime and insular areas, Ravier said.
According to Ravier, the proposed legal framework would "punish" those who illegally exploit the area's natural resources and provide Argentina with the "indispensable tools to protect itself against foreign threats."
Argentina claims sovereignty over the South Atlantic archipelago, while the United Kingdom has exercised control over the islands since 1833.
The Argentine government recently announced sanctions against companies and individuals involved in oil and gas exploration and extraction on the Argentine continental shelf without official authorization. It has also announced plans to build a naval base in the country's south.
Argentina and the United Kingdom fought a war over the Malvinas Islands in 1982. The conflict lasted from April 2 to June 14 and resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine service members, 255 British military personnel and three islanders. ■
