EU demands Argentina respect trade agreements

The European Union has formally asked Argentina to respect all its international trade agreements after Buenos Aires imposed a boycott against British products and called for a blockade of the Falkland Islands.

"We would like for Argentina to explain itself, clarify what is happening, and give us guarantees that it is going to respect all of its international trade obligations," said the European trade commissioner's spokesman, John Clancy. The European Commission announced on February 29 that it would take diplomatic action against Argentina after London filed a complaint over the boycott.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has asked other South American governments to prevent any ship from docking in their countries' ports heading to and from the Falklands. The call has re-ignited tensions between the British and the Argentinean governments as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War approaches.

In another matter, Transportation Minister Juan Pablo Schiavi resigned Wednesday, two weeks after Argentina's worst train disaster claimed 51 lives. He cited health reasons but the Buenos Aires daily Clarín said that Schiavi was pressured out. He was admitted to hospital suffering from heart problems one week after a federal judge barred him from leaving the country until the investigation into the February 22 crash was over. The train slammed into a platform after the brakes failed. More than 700 were injured.