Hillary Clinton offers to mediate talks over Falklands dispute
Hillary Clinton and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchne
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Tuesday, 02, Mar 2010 11:12
By Richard James.
Hillary Clinton has declared the US is ready to help mediate talks between Britain and Argentina on the ongoing dispute regarding oil drilling off the Falkland Islands.
The US secretary of state met with the Argentinean president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on Monday and called for both sides to engage in productive talks.
Commenting on the dispute she said: "We're not interested in and have no real role in determining what they decide between the two of them. But we want them talking and we want them trying to resolve the outstanding issues between them.
"We recognise that there are contentious matters that have to be resolved and we hope that they will do so."
Tensions between London and Buenos Aries have escalated in recent months after Desire Petroleum continued with plans to drill for oil in waters just off the disputed British territory.
Mrs Clinton's comments came during a five-day visit to Argentina and Brazil aimed at gaining greater international support in condemning Iran's nuclear ambitions. The tour will also see her visit earthquake-hit Chile.
Desire Petroleum began drilling around 60 miles north of the Falklands on February 22nd with geologists claiming there could be up 60 billion barrels of oil in the area.