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British Ambassador's visit to the Falklands not “secret”.

Wednesday, January 29th 2003 - 20:00 UTC
Full article

A British Foreign Office official in Port Stanley has denied that the British Ambassador to Argentina, Sir Robin Christopher, recently made a 'secret' visit to the Falkland Islands

First Secretary and Deputy Governor Russ Jarvis, said that the short two days visit to the Islands by the British Ambassador, 'had been made known both to elected Councillors and the press', prior to the Ambassador's arrival in the Falklands.

Sir Robin Christopher is the first resident British Ambassador to Argentine, after taking up the appointment, to visit the Islands since the 1982 Falklands War.

Further 'mystery' surrounded the previously unannounced visit of Sir Robin Christopher when details for a planned open press conference with him at Government House were suddenly altered. Local journalists were informed, on the eve of his departure, that the British Ambassador had requested that everything he said at the press conference would be 'off the record' and therefore not for publication. Most of the journalists, surprised by his decision, failed to attend the proposed conference.

Councillor Mike Summers, speaking during a public meeting, said that several members of the Legislature had had 'lengthy discussions' with the British Ambassador. He said that he did not wish to reveal specific details of what had been said during these discussions, other than that a variety of subjects had been talked about. These included the Argentine political situation, the run-up to the General Election in Argentina, the likely candidates and speculation as to what the outcome might be. Councillor Summers added that they had also discussed 'high seas fishing and the prospects for achieving some agreement with the Argentines on the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission about high seas fishing - we talked about communications - the development of Lan Chile flights and other charter flights and what the prospects were'. The Falklands Government has frequently proposed to Buenos Aires that a long-term fisheries agreement, to prevent uncontrolled fishing on the high seas, would be of mutual benefit to both Countries.

The Councillor revealed that there had been discussions too about a proposed permanent Memorial to those Argentines who died in the 1982 Falklands War. The Memorial is to be erected in the Argentine War Cemetery at Darwin. 'He gave us some information about the gentleman who is funding it (the memorial) and a potential visit by him, and some discussion about the implementation phase of that'. The Islands Planning and Building Committee, which includes several Councillors, approved a modified application by the Argentine Government, after an earlier proposal for a 30 meters high memorial was rejected.

Councillor Summers said that, 'the interests of the Falklands as a Country are best served by there being knowledge that the British Ambassador was here, to have discussions with Councillors, on issues that affects the relationship between Britain and Argentina and the Falklands and Argentina. It was not intended to be a secret (visit). But I think I can respect his wish not to be quoted on issues'.

On other topics Councillors revealed that despite a poor fishing season last year, all the Illex squid licences for this season have been sold, although not all have been paid for. However the public was reminded that as the Falklands Government have reduced the cost of licences, income from this source was likely to be £6-7 millions ($US10 millions) less than last year. The population is bracing itself for a possible cut in public spending to be announced in March.

Negotiations with the airline Lan Chile over the possibility of a 2nd weekly flight between Santiago and the Islands are progressing, although no agreement has yet been reached. The amount of the subsidy which the Falklands Development Corporation might be required to pay the Chilean airline is under discussion, said Councillor Summers. Currently Lan Chile operate a scheduled weekly flight each Saturday between Santiago and the Falklands. The aircraft is required by agreement to stop, once-a-month, in Rio Gallegos enroute to the Islands, and the following week on the return journey.

Patrick Watts (MP) Stanley

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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