Argentina Seeks Backing in Falklands Dispute

Argentina looked for regional support on Sunday in its escalating dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands, winning immediate backing from President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, who called longstanding British claims to the islands the vestige of a past empire.

Nearly 30 years after having lost a short but bloody war with Britain over the Falklands, Argentina is furious that the British are about to begin oil drilling operations in the potentially rich seabed around the islands in the South Atlantic.

Argentina escalated the dispute last week by ordering all ships heading to the Falklands through its waters to seek permission first from Buenos Aires.

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana took Argentina’s case to the Rio Group of Latin American and Caribbean nations, meeting in Cancún, Mexico.

Mr. Taiana said he hoped the group would issue a statement condemning the British intent to drill around the islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.

“Argentina has made significant diplomatic advances among the 33 foreign ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean that strengthen our country” in the dispute, Mr. Taiana said Sunday in a statement.

In Caracas, Mr. Chávez, speaking on his radio and television show “Alo Presidente,” called on Queen Elizabeth to hand over the islands to Argentina.

“Look, England, how long are you going to be in Las Malvinas? Queen of England, I’m talking to you,” Mr. Chávez said. “The time for empires is over, haven’t you noticed? Return the Malvinas to the Argentine people.”

Argentina has intensified the pressure on Britain over the Falklands in recent weeks, warning it will take unspecified measures to stop British oil exploration even if it is not prepared to go to war again.

A tugboat hauling a Scottish exploration rig has arrived in the contested waters and is expected to start oil prospecting any day.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain said Friday that he was confident diplomacy could resolve the standoff.

Argentina says Britain is skirting United Nations resolutions calling for dialogue on the dispute. Mr. Taiana will meet with Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations, to encourage talks, Argentina’s United Nations ambassador, Jorge Argüello, has said.