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By Estelle Shirbon
LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Britain and Argentina haveagreed to work together towards removing measures restrictingthe oil and gas, shipping and fishing industries around thedisputed Falkland Islands, both countries said on Wednesday.
Argentina claims sovereignty over the British-run islands itcalls Las Malvinas, and the issue has strained relations fordecades, culminating in a war in 1982.
Tensions flared last year, but Britain has been keen toimprove relations since pro-business Mauricio Macri took overfrom Cristina Fernandez as Argentina's president in December.
"In a positive spirit, both sides agreed to set up adialogue to improve cooperation on South Atlantic issues ofmutual interest," said a joint communique by both countries.
"In this context it was agreed to take the appropriatemeasures to remove all obstacles limiting the economic growthand sustainable development of the Falkland Islands, includingin trade, fishing, shipping and hydrocarbons," it said.
The communique was agreed following a series of meetings inBuenos Aires between Macri, Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra andAlan Duncan, Britain's minister of state for Europe and theAmericas.
Britain said the discussions that had taken place did notaffect the sovereignty issue and Britain remained clear in itssupport of the islanders.
The Falklands are inhabited by about 3,000 people, theoverwhelming majority of whom say they wish the islands toremain a British overseas territory.
"The UK and Argentina have a broad relationship that goesbeyond our differences," Duncan said in a statement.
"It's clear to me that Argentina is open for business. Themeasures agreed today demonstrate we can make progress throughdialogue."
The last bout of serious tension over the Falklands came inJune last year, when an Argentine federal judge ordered theseizure of millions of dollars' worth of assets owned bydrillers operating in the Falklands area.
This did not halt oil exploration, although efforts havebeen scaled down in recent times due to low oil prices oninternational markets.
The joint communique also said that both sides supported aproject to use DNA to identify unknown Argentine soldiers whoperished in the war and are buried on the islands. Discussionson that issue would continue in Geneva with input from theInternational Committee of the Red Cross.
Both sides also agreed that additional flights would beestablished between the Falklands, which are located about 435miles off the coast of Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina,and third countries in the region. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Kate Holton and RalphBoulton)