MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Minister John Battle: “The people are the real agenda”

British Foreign Office Minister John Battle, who has responsibility for the Falklands and its relations with Argentina, said that he was ?impressed with the context of the letter which Falklands Councillors sent to the Argentine media for publication'. ?It contained items of mutual concerns to both Countries, and the Councillors had every right to send it' said the folk singing Minister.

Mr. Battle had wooed a large audience in the Malvina House Hotel when he sang several popular folk songs accompanying himself on the guitar. The letter called on the Argentine Government to consider some form of joint effort to regulate fishing on the high seas, which would be of benefit to both the Islands and Argentina.

Mr Battle who is on a 5 days visit to the Falklands said that he noted that most Argentine newspapers had ?welcomed the initiative' taken by Falklands Councillors with respect to over-fishing on the high seas. The Minister hinted at his disappointment with the negative response with which the letter was received by the Argentine Government saying that it '?was his intention to see a positive Argentine Government engaged in discussing fisheries issues''

Asked to comment on the attitude currently adopted by the Government of President De La Rua, which refuses to recognize the existence of the Islanders, the Minister posed his own question in reply, sending a clear message to the Argentine Government by asking ?where does the future go?' ?The people are the real agenda' he insisted.

However Mr. Battle welcomed the July 1999 Agreement which allows Argentine nationals to visit the Falklands and permits a once monthly stopover in Rio Gallegos of Lan Chile flights to the Falklands. Asked to comment on how he could see further cooperation developing between the Islands and Argentina he mentioned ?transportation exchanges with access in both directions'. He talked of ?flights in time to Argentina (from the Islands) but insisted that ?it takes time and patience'. He spoke of other areas where some form of cooperation could be advanced mentioning ?fisheries conservation, oil and gas licences and mutual respect'.

He recalled that the July 1999 Agreement had not resulted in ?the Argentine cabinet all visiting the Islands with blue and white flags flying', as some people in the Islands had feared.

Mr. Battle expressed his surprise at how many young people were living in the Islands. ?In Britain we tend to think of the population as being a few old farmers and nothing else but there is a vibrant community of young people here which reminds of a lovely phrase which goes around in my head ? ?se