The Organization of American States (OAS) said on Tuesday that it supported talks between Britain and Argentina to solve the Malvinas Islands dispute peacefully, according to reports arriving in Havana from Santo Domingo.

At the OAS general assembly in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, the organization voted to approve an Argentine declaration to "continue exploring all possible means to solve the problem peacefully."

The disputed Malvinas Islands in the southern Atlantic near the Argentine coast, which are called the Falklands by Britons, were occupied by British forces in 1833.

Argentina fought a 74-day war with Britain in 1982 over the sovereignty of the archipelago, leaving 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers dead. Britain later regained the control of the islands.

Argentina and Britain "must begin talks about the sovereignty dispute as soon as possible," the OAS said.

Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana quoted the country's president, Nestor Kirchner, as saying that the Argentine people were committed to winning back sovereignty of the islands as soon as possible, and would begin talks, in good faith, with Britain.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2006)