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Argentina signs accord with UK on private air, sea trips to and from Falklands
Argentina and the United Kingdom agreed that the flights of private civil aircraft and the navigation of private vessels from Argentine mainland territory to the Falkland/Malvinas, and from the territory of the Malvinas to the mainland, will be protected by a safeguard system, by way of which our country's rights of sovereignty over the Falkland/Malvinas and the surrounding maritime spaces will not be affected adversely.
The agreement was signed in Buenos Airest yesterday morning by Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini and the United Kingdom's ambassador, Robin Christopher, as the Foreign Ministry reported in a communique.
The Foreign Ministry said that, as a result of this, "it will be possible for aircraft with Argentine registrations to make flights and for private vessels flying our country's flag to sail to and from the Falkland/Malvinas, without adversely affecting Argentina's position in the sovereignty dispute".
According to the explanation, "The system agreed upon will be applied to the flights of the aircraft and the navigation of the vessels mentioned, including their arrival, stay and departure from the respective ports. It also will cover all the meetings of both governments' officials pertaining to these activities, as well as all the actions necessary for them to be carried out and every act associated with them and their consequences."
The communique explains that "the aforementioned cases had not been provided for in the Joint Declaration of 14 July 1999 and its exchange of notes".
Statement from Gilbert House
From Falkland Legislative Office on the 23 February a Statement was announced:
The Governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina today, 23 February 2001, agreed in an Exchange of Notes that flights by private civil aircraft and navigation by private vessels from Argentina to the Falkland Islands and from the Falkland Islands to Argentina be covered by the formula of the sovereignty umbrella.
Governor Lamont consulted with Legislative Councillors on Tuesday 20 February in anticipation of such an exchange taking place. Legislative Councillors understand that the Exchange of Notes makes no change to existing arrangements as far as the Falkland Islands authorities are concerned. In this context the jurisdiction of the Falkland Islands is maintained and clearance from the Falkland Islands Government is required for flights arriving from Argentina and vessels originating from Argentina.
Source: Gilbert House
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