BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tensions between Argentina and Britain have been escalating over Britain's oil drilling plan in the disputed oil-rich Malvinas (Falkland) Islands. The two countries were locked in a new round of verbal skirmishes 28 years after their bitter war over the ownership of the archipelago.
DIPLOMATIC ROW OVER BRITISH OIL DRILLING PLAN
Earlier this month, the British government approved Desire Petroleum, a British oil explorer, to drill around the disputed islands, drawing strong opposition from the Argentine side.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said last Thursday that the exploration was "completely in accordance with international law."
However, Argentina accused Britain of doing "an unilateral act of aggression and subduing" by deciding the hydrocarbon exploration in the South Atlantic archipelago.
The disputed islands lie in southern Atlantic, 450 km from the Argentine coast. They are called the Falklands by Britons and the Malvinas by the Argentines. The archipelago has been occupied by the British forces since 1833.
Argentina and Britain have been at odds over the sovereignty of the islands for decades, and their disputes led to a 74-day war in 1982, which ended in Argentina's defeat.
According to Britain's Geological Society, oil fields around the islands could produce up to 60 billion barrels of oil, equal to the North Sea crude reserves. If fully exploited, the oil and gas reserves will provide sufficient energy for Britain in the next 25 years.
As British oil and gas exploration is about to begin on the islands, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Tuesday signed a decree limiting maritime transit between the continental territory and the island in the Argentine sea, a move that further stirred up tensions.
This decree was issued after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his government had gone through all the necessary procedures to assure the people of the Falkland (Mavlinas) were protected of possible Argentine hostile actions.
ARGENTINA CALLS FOR DIALOGUE, RULES OUT WAR
Argentina on Saturday pushed for a negotiated solution to the diplomatic row with Britain.
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said in Mexico, where he is attending a Rio Group summit, that Britain should "sit down and have a dialogue about sovereignty" to settle the dispute.
Taiana is also to meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday to urge talks.
While insisting on negotiations with Britain over oil exploration in the disputed waters, Argentina has ruled out military action to reassert its sovereignty claims over the islands.
"War is excluded from our horizon," Deputy Foreign Minister Victorio Taccetti told Radio Milenium on Friday.
Residents of the islands do not need to worry about another war, but they should clearly understand that Argentina will not give up its claims to the islands, Taccetti said.
Also on Friday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London that he was "confident" diplomacy could resolve a row over the disputed islands.
