MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British Foreign Office Minister a “star” in the Falklands.

The British Minister of State at the Foreign Office with responsibility for the Falkland Islands John Battle spent Wednesday in the Islands observing British Troops in a full scale Military Exercise.

Mr Battle who replaced the deposed Tony Lloyd, who fell out of favour with Prime Minister Tony Blair, traveled to the Military Base at Mount Pleasant, some 35 miles from Stanley, by helicopter early on Wednesday morning.

The Minister who is responsible for the Falkland Islands and relations with Argentina, surprised the Islands population when he visited the Malvina House Hotel in Stanley on Tuesday evening to listen to a traditional 'folk night'. This despite the fact that he had just undertaken the tiring 18 hours journey from England on board a Royal Air Force Tri Star. Mr Battle not only enjoyed listening to the many local musicians and singers, but needed little persuasion to step up to the microphone and pick up a guitar and accompany himself as he expertly sang two folk songs. One of his songs, 'Sweet Thames Flow Softly' brought memories of the famous River Thames in London, on which the House of Parliament sit. His songs were warmly applauded by the large crowd who had gathered at the Hotel, and he later joined in the singing of well-known songs as 'Wild Rover' and 'The Last Thing on my Mind'.

Mr Battle who has been an outspoken Minister in his strong support of the Islanders and their wish to remain British, and of the United Kingdom's rejection of Argentina's sovereignty claim, will lay a wreath on Thursday at the Liberation Memorial, in memory of the 255 Britons who died in the 1982 Falklands War.

The Minister has welcomed improved relations with Argentina, and Falklands agreement to cooperation with the Argentine Government in fisheries conservation, allowing entry into the Islands for Argentine nationals, and the monthly Lan Chile stopover in Rio Gallegos.