The Argentine ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, denies having “interrupted” British foreign secretary William Hague during the launch of Britain’s annual world review of human rights.

Castro fended off questions regarding her intervention into Hague’s speech at Lancaster House in London.

The foreign secretary was asked at a public hearing whether his country was “open to dialogue” over the question of sovereignty of the Falklands/Malvinas.

“Seeing that the UN and the international community and a large group of Nobel Prize winners urge both countries to negotiate in order to come to a peaceful and permanent resolution, my question is: Are you ready for dialogue? Are we going to give peace a chance?” Castro asked as Hague took questions from the audience.

“You cannot say that you are so good at human rights and democracy if you are not open to dialogue,” the ambassador continued.

A perturbed Hague cut Castro short with “thank you. That’s enough.”

The Argentine ambassador has said that the foreign secretary failed to respond to her question.

In an interview with radio La Red, the official clarified that the meeting was “formally arranged” by the Foreign Office and attended by diplomats, journalists, officials and directors of human rights organisations from around the world.

The diplomat has claimed that she has received “many congratulations” for her intervention and denied that she acted in an “irrational” manner.

Castro assumed her post in London in March amidst escalating tensions surrounding the 30th anniversary of the bilateral conflict. The post had not been filled since 2008. Castro’s appointment is generally assumed to be part of Argentina’s drive to gain international recognition of the Falklands/Malvinas issue.

Britain has maintained that it will only resume dialogue at the request of the 3,000 islanders, something which they have shown no signs of doing thus far.

William Hague made clear Britain’s position during a dinner with 100 international ambassadors, including Argentina’s Ambassador, Alicia Castro.

During the dinner, held in London, Hague emphasised he wanted to strengthen the relations between Britain and Latin America, but is committed to the “right of self-determination of the islanders.’

“This determination to deepen our relations with Latin America is coupled with our steadfast commitment to the right of self determination of the people of the Falkland Islands,” said Hague, as reported in the Telegraph. He added, that both countries will commemorate those lost during the war and these events cannot be “understood as a provocation.”

This was the first time Hague has addressed the sensitive issue in front of a high-ranking Argentine official.

A day later, the Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister, Luis Almagro, declared his opposition to blockading trade with the island.

“Supporting any form of blockade would be a violation of the Malvinas inhabitants’ human rights and the same we say with Cuba, we repeat in this case” said Almagro, yesterday.

Although Uruguay supports Argentina’s stance on the sovereignty of the islands, Almagro added that Uruguayan businesses can do trade “with whom they wish and with whom they can.”

Uruguay has been pulled into the debate by a misinformed Sun newspaper article, indicating that Uruguay was breaking trade restrictions set by Argentina on the Falklands. In a statement, Almagro pointed out that beside Argentina, “there’s no blockade of the Malvinas Islands inhabitants by any country of the continent.”

The Falklands/Malvinas debate has been gaining tension over the last few months, as the 30^th anniversary of the war draws near.