Buenos Aires, April 8 (MERCOPRESS-RHC) The Argentine government officially declassified secret files on Monday relating to the country's 1982 war with Britain over the Falkland or Malvinas Islands.

The Defense Ministry has 30 working days to establish a mechanism for members of the public to consult the records, according to a resolution published in the Official Gazette.
Last week also documents provided by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden showed Britain spied Argentina's efforts to claim Malvinas’ sovereignty

President Cristina Fernandez announced the declassification plan last week during a speech marking the 33rd anniversary of the invasion and occupation by Argentine troops of the South Atlantic archipelago, identified as Falklands/Malvinas.
Fighting officially began on May 1, 1982, with the arrival of a British task force, and ended 45 days later with the surrender of the Argentines. The conflict claimed nearly 1,000 lives - some 700 Argentines and 255 British soldiers and sailors, and three Islanders.
A decree with the signatures of the president, Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernandez and Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, was published on Monday in the Official Gazette.

Britain has ruled the Falklands since 1833, but Buenos Aires insists the Islands rightfully belong to Argentina as part of territorial integrity and legacy from the Spanish empire.