Greater Argentina (Spanish: Argentina más Grande) refers to the idea of Argentine Soveregnty over the British Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, along with the disputed Antarctic Peninsula and the region designated as Argentine Antarctica.
Constitutional Irredentism over the Falkland Islands
editThe Argentine government has maintained a claim over the Falkland Islands since 1833, and renewed it as recently as June 2009.[1] It considers the archipelago part of the Tierra del Fuego Province, along with South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
The Argentine claim is included in the transitional provisions of the Constitution of Argentina as amended in 1994:[2][3]
The Argentine Nation ratifies its legitimate and non-prescribing sovereignty over the Malvinas, Georgias del Sur and Sandwich del Sur Islands and over the corresponding maritime and insular zones, as they are an integral part of the National territory. The recovery of these territories and the full exercise of sovereignty, respecting the way of life for its inhabitants and according to the principles of international law, constitute a permanent and unwavering goal of the Argentine people.
Claims in Antarctica
edit
Delimited by the meridians 25° and 74° West The Argentine Antarctic Claim overlaps and contradicts the claims of both Britain and Chile. The Instituto Antártico Argentino was established in 1951 by the decree-law 2191 to the Argentine Constitution[4], suggesting that Argentina holds full sovereignty over its Antarctic Claims. Very few nations recognize any antarctic claims[5], the Argentine claim is backed by the Antarctic Treaty System[6].
Argentina bases its claims on this sector of Antarctica on the following grounds.
- The Antarctic peninsula is geologically and geographically part of the Andes.
- Argentina has maintained a permanent occupation for more than a century, and controls the oldest base in Antarctica (Orcadas Station on Laurie Island).
- Argentina conducts many rescue missions in Antarctica.
- Argentina has constructed lighthouses and other navigational aids in Antarctica.
- Argentina constructed Antarctica's first airport, at Marambio Base in 1969[7].
- Argentines form more of Antarctica's peninsula's population than nationals of any other country.
- The first Antarctican was born in Esperanza Base (Hope Base), namely Emilio Marcos Palma[8].
- Argentina has in total sent more people to Antarctica than all the other countries together, though only 230 remain on the continent[9], signifigantly lower than the population of the US owned McMurdo Station containing 1,258 residents making this claim a fallacy[10].
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Malvinas: la ONU hará más gestiones para abrir el diálogo". Lanacion.com.ar. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ "Constitución Nacional" (in Spanish). 22 August 1994. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Constitution of the Argentine Nation". 22 August 1994. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/DIVULGAC/ARGANT.HTM
- ^ CIA World Factbook
- ^ http://www.globalclassroom.org/antarct9.html
- ^ Antarctic facilities – comnap.aq
- ^ http://webecoist.com/2011/02/15/born-freezing-meet-antarcticas-first-citizen/
- ^ http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/26/argentine-population-in-antarctica-230-including-nine-families-and-16-children
- ^ 4.0 Antarctica - Past and Present