The Permanent Commission of Tribute to the South Atlantic Action awarded a special diploma to Ambassador Ian Sielecki for demanding that a map showing the Falklands as British territory be covered during a hearing at the French National Assembly
In response to the attempt by the president of the French committee to downplay the incident, Ian Sielecki reaffirmed the Argentine position with diplomatic firmness: "It is marked as United Kingdom. That is the point. It is as if the ambassador of Ukraine were invited to speak in front of a map that showed Lugansk or Crimea as if they legitimately belonged to Russia. I am sure my Ukrainian colleague would reject that very clearly".
During the era characterized by order, dignity, and the defense of sovereignty, driven by Javier Milei, the foreign policy of Argentina has taken a turn. In this renewed scenario where patriotic pride and unrestricted respect for the Armed Forces and the heroes of the Fatherland prevail, representatives of the new Argentine diplomacy have begun to be directly recognized by the war veterans who risked their lives for the Nation. Under this doctrine of sovereign firmness, the city of Buenos Aires hosted an institutional event of profound significance for the Malvinas cause.
During an emotional ceremony held at the Círculo de Oficiales de la Prefectura Naval Argentina, the Permanent Commission of Tribute to the South Atlantic Campaign presented a Special Diploma to the Argentine ambassador to France, Ian Sielecki. The high distinction was conferred during the solemn meeting where Malvinas Argentinas Statues were also awarded to 20 war veterans, paying tribute to those who honorably guarded our island territory.
The organizing entity, chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (R) Dr. Ernesto Fernández Maguer, has an impeccable track record established in December 1982 and has been awarding the Malvinas Argentinas Statues continuously since 1995. In justifying the award given to Ian Sielecki, the former combatants highlighted the diplomat's determination to defend sovereign rights in the heart of Europe, emphasizing in his speech: "On January 21, we were pleasantly surprised by the attitude of an important Argentine diplomat who, during his presentation at the French National Assembly, refused to continue unless a map that violated our sovereignty over the Malvinas was covered when referring to them as Falkland Islands".
The events that motivated this recognition took place on January 21, when Ian Sielecki, invited to speak before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, noticed the presence of a map labeling the Malvinas Islands as territory of the United Kingdom.
Far from the bureaucratic passivity of previous administrations, the ambassador interrupted the session and demanded the correction of the offense: "I just noticed that I am sitting in front of a map that shows the Malvinas Islands as if they were part of the United Kingdom. This poses a significant problem on various levels, including legal ones, because I cannot, as a representative of the Argentine State, speak freely in front of that map".
His unwavering stance forced the French authorities to place a yellow adhesive paper over the British designation before resuming the hearing. The delivery of the Special Diploma on November 12 consolidates a path of sincere popular tribute. In May 2026, Ian Sielecki had already received the Soldier Maciel Recognition Statue, awarded by the war veterans who organized the historic vigil of San Andrés de Giles.
On that occasion, veteran Marcelo Alvarado explained the value of the award stating that "It is not given to just anyone; we confer it to those who have been able to uphold with firmness, intelligence, and dignity the respect for Argentina's historical position on the Malvinas".
For his part, the ambassador, aligned with the principles advocated by the libertarian administration, expressed gratitude for the distinction stating that "This is the greatest honor of my life, to receive a tribute from the war veterans, and it is the greatest honor that any Argentine can aspire to", assuring that "Any good Argentine would do what I did" and concluding that "Malvinas transcends any ideology. Every good Argentine carries them in their heart".
