Argentine President Cristina Fernandez Tuesday proposed talks with Britain on the fate of the Malvinas Islands, which are known to the British as the Falklands.

"Peace and diplomacy are the only paths," said Fernandez. "The Malvinas are an unwavering cause, not just a national cause, but also a regional cause for sovereignty and a global fight against colonialism."

Fernandez spoke in Puerto Madryn, south of the capital Buenos Aires, at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the 74-day Malvinas War, which ended with Argentina's defeat after it failed to recover the islands from British control.

London has steadfastly refused to hold talks on the Malvinas, arguing that the islanders, mainly descendants of English settlers, want to remain under the British rule.

To support its stance, Britain helped organize a March 10-11 referendum in which 99.8 percent of islanders voted to preserve their status as a British Overseas Territory.

Argentina did not recognize the outcome, saying the referendum of British "transplants" does not reflect legitimate self-determination.

The 1982 Malvinas War led to the deaths of 649 Argentinean soldiers, 255 British fighters and three islanders.