A British MP threatened to fish with "leaked like Belgrano"

The national government "strongly condemns the regrettable" statements of the British MEP Robert Rowland who asked that foreign fishing vessels receive "the same treatment as the Belgrano", in reference to the cruise sunk by the British Navy during the Malvinas War, which caused the death of 323 Argentine crewmembers.

Argentine repudiation

"The Argentine government strongly condemns the regrettable statements made on July 10 by the British MEP Robert Rowland, via social networks," said the Argentine Foreign Ministry last night. Twitter.

"Their statements dishonor the memory of the 323 victims who perished during the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano Cruise in 1982, offend their families and testify to a flagrant disregard for human life," said the spokesman. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Faurie.

Controversial statements

Rowland, an investment fund manager, made these controversial remarks via Twitter when he spoke of "the restoration of sovereignty" over British waters by thanking a Member of the European Parliament, June Mummery, for Have sat on the fisheries committee. of the European Parliament.

"We are behind all our fishermen and the restoration of sovereignty over our waters … 200 miles of exclusion zone for any foreign fishing boat will enjoy the same treatment as the Belgrano!" Well done in June, we are at 110% with you and you are causing them hell in the committee, "wrote the MEP.

Repercussions

His comments have sparked criticism and questions from MEPs, such as liberal Democrat Chris Davies, elected this week as chair of the European Parliament's fisheries committee.

"It's a call to death for people, a call to fishermen from another country to die in our waters, it's an evil, which makes me nauseous," said Davies.

After the repudiation of the Argentine Foreign Ministry by the statements of the British MP, the British ambbadador to Argentina, Mark Kent, added to the controversy an excuse.

"Conflicts do not lead to anything, even if there are different positions on certain points, as long as we have to respect the human values ​​that unite us, we have a modern program of mutual benefits and a humanitarian program. and we continue on this path, the dead, "said Kent via Twitter, in response to the Chancellery's statement.

About Belgrano

During the Falklands War, the General Belgrano cruise was attacked by the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror and caused the deaths of 323 crew members out of a total of 1,093 men and women on board.

The sinking of the Belgrano occurred on May 2, 1982 at 5 pm, outside the conflict zone established during the Falklands War. Two MK-813 torpedoes launched by the Conqueror struck the stern and bow and the vessel began to dive into the water.