Argentina's Foreign Minister Criticizes Britain for Increasing Military Capacity in Falklands

Argentina's foreign minister on Wednesday sharply criticized Britain for building up its military capacity in the disputed Falkland Islands, a small increase that caused a big stir in the South American country. Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said Britain's decision underscores an unwillingness to negotiate in the face of U.N. resolutions urging the two nations to do so. Timerman told local station Radio Del Plata, "It's not only a provocation for Argentina but is also an insult to the United Nations. Argentina has no plans for conflict with any country while Great Britain is continually at war in some part of the world." The islands, which are about 300 miles east of Argentina's southern Patagonian coast, are claimed by both Britain and Argentina. The two countries fought over the remote archipelago in 1982 after Argentine troops invaded.