MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

More consideration for Islanders.

A significant segment of Argentine public opinion believes that it's necessary to consult the Islanders in any future negotiations with Britain concerning sovereignty over the Falklands, a noticeable change over the last decade.

According to a Gallup poll published by La Nación, 31% of those interviewed consider that the Islanders must be ignored, but 45% believe they must not be excluded from negotiations over sovereignty.

This shows quiet a change in attitude since traditionally Argentines have been reluctant to listen to the opinion of the Islanders, as successive polls in the last decade have indicated. Asked specifically with whom the Falklands issue must be negotiated, 29% replied with "no one"; 27% with the United Kingdom and Islanders; 21% only with Britain.

Regarding the importance of the Falklands issue, on a scale ranging from 1 to 10, those interviewed aired a 7,7 points average, taking 1 as "not at all important", and 10, "as absolutely essential".

Six out of ten polled also replied they had no expectations as to the possibility of recovering sovereignty over the Islands in the next twenty years.

Eleven years ago another Gallup poll showed that 79% considered recovery of the Islands as the best possible future, a percentage that has now dropped to 51%.

Actually 36% consider that the best possible future for the issue would be an agreement or some kind of compromise between Argentina and United Kingdom.

A significant majority expressed their disagreement with the 1982 military invasion, 71%, while only one in four interviewed favored that decision.

As far as the interests of the Islanders, 32% believe they must be considered; 30% that it's a secondary factor and subject to what Argentina and the United Kingdom decide, and 27% that "kelpers" have the right to decide the future of the territory.

The Gallup survey interviewed 1.261 people from all over Argentina during the last week of July.