MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Foreign Minister Hopes to Speed up Falkland Talks.

The Argentine Foreign Minister, Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini will effect strategic changes within the ministry of foreign affairs in Argentina, seeking to speed up dialogue with Britain on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The story reported in the Argentine newspaper La Nacion tells that the promotion of ambassador Susana Ruiz Cerrutti to the Foreign Affairs Secretariat, was not fortuitous and so she will keep her role of special representative for the South Atlantic Affairs. Ruiz Cerruti, the only woman to have been a foreign minister in Argentine history, is said to have played a significant role in the discussions, which emerged, from the London agreement signed on 14 July last year. The report tells how, eleven years ago she was one of the ideologists behind the creation of the umbrella, which allows Argentina and the UK to discuss and make progress on matters related to the Islands without prejudice to the fundamental dispute. Ruiz Cerrutti is said to be convinced that during Guido Di Tella's term, Argentina did not achieve any progress with the Falklands.

New General Manager for FIDC.

With effect from the end of last week the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has a new General Manager. The man selected for the job was Richard Baker, who has been working for the corporation since September last year as Assistant General Manager. Richard said "I have enjoyed the challenges of the last twelve months and look forward to helping the economy of the Islands develop over the next few years. This is a very exciting time, with the development of the Falkland Brand, organic certification being developed and the construction of the new abattoir is going ahead." He continued "Elsewhere we have the new Tourist Information Centre underway and the Internet Portal being designed to promote the Falkland Islands as a whole and to allow increased sales of products and services overseas." He concluded "closer to home, the formalised links with the Department of Agriculture and Falklands Landholdings are changing the way that we operate allowing us to deliver economic development more effectively, especially to the rural community."

Former Welsh Guard Found Hanged

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