FALKLAND ISLANDS:The Falkland Islands are far from forgotten by Argentinians, who name everything from ice cream parlours to soccer stadiums after them.
In Buenos Aires, newspapers carry the weather forecast for the "Islas Malvinas", the Spanish name for the south Atlantic archipelago, and souvenir stalls sell patches showing the islands' outline against the blue-and-white Argentinian flag.
Argentina's decision to invade is widely seen as a mistake by the discredited military dictatorship of the time, but the conviction that the islands are rightfully part of Argentina is shared by young and old, rich and poor. "It's part of our national identity, it's a national cause. The thing is, it was bastardised, badly used by the dictatorship," said war veteran Alfredo Rubio, who was doing his military service when he was sent to the islands aged 18.
The death toll in the 10-week war was 913; 655 Argentinians; 255 British troops; and three islanders. Many veterans returned to face long-term unemployment and depression, stigmatised for the ill-fated conflict launched by the military rulers who rights groups say killed 30,000 leftist dissidents from 1976 to 1983.
More than 350 former soldiers have committed suicide, say veterans' groups, although they concede that things have improved since centre-left president Nestor Kirchner took office in 2003. "The war hurt and it keeps on hurting," said best-selling history writer Felipe Pigna, criticising Britain's refusal to discuss sovereignty. "It's very difficult to think of a quick solution acceptable to both parties."
Mr Kirchner is from the Patagonian region, where Malvinas nationalism is strongest. He has been vocal in pressing Argentinian claims over the islands, disputed since 1833, calling it a national objective.
Britain invited Argentinian officials to take part in a joint commemoration of the war, but Mr Kirchner declined. Instead, he is expected to spend April 2nd on the tip of Patagonia, closest to the windy islands, some 480km (300 miles) away.
In the Falklands many islanders remain suspicious of Argentina, and diplomatic tension has increased over issues such as fishing licences in island waters and flights to the South American mainland.
"Sadly, the general feeling toward Argentina is one of frustration and mistrust," said Jenny Cockwell, editor of Falklands weekly the Penguin News. "The present administration is waging an active campaign to eventually gain sovereignty."
Some islanders go on shopping trips and holidays to Argentina, and more Argentinian veterans are returning to visit the chilly positions where they holed up during the conflict.
At a social club in La Plata, veterans who had gathered to swap stories from their recent visits criticised Britain for refusing to discuss sovereignty. Britain says it will only enter talks if the islanders want it to.
Ernesto Alonso, who was sent to the Falklands as a young conscript, said the war dealt a blow to his country's hopes of winning sovereignty through peaceful means. "It's a very, very deeply held belief among our people that this is the way to get [ the islands] back," he said.
Standing behind the counter of his bakery shop in Buenos Aires, Ibraham Goldsmit said his country might one day win control of the islands. "It could happen, but peacefully," he said.
"The war shouldn't have happened. The boys that got killed were a very big sacrifice."
- (Reuters)