MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine War victim remembered at South Georgia.

Felix Artuso, the only Argentine soldier killed during the battle for South Georgia in the 1982 Conflict, was remembered when an official delegation visited the Island, 800 miles south east of the Falklands, on the occasion of the ?civilianization' of the British territory.

Artuso was on board the submarine ?Sante Fe' at the time of his death, and was buried at King Edward Point. Today the Commissioner for South Georgia Mr. Donald Lamont (Governor of the Falklands) and the Commander British Forces Falkland Islands Air Commodore John Cliffe, accompanied by the Reverend Alistair McHaffie of Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley, laid wreaths at the graves of Sir Ernest Shackleton the famous Antarctic explorer and Artuso.

More than 20 British Servicemen will soon leave South Georgia, some on HMS Leeds Castle later this month and the remainder on board the RFA Diligence in early April. This will be the first time since 1982 that the Island will be without a British Military presence, as scientists from the British Antarctic Survey will in future occupy the Island, carrying out scientific research into penguins, seals and various fisheries species such as krill, mackrel, ice-fish and squid.

However according to Professor Chris Rapley, the Director of British Antarctic Survey, the withdrawal of British troops does not signal a lessening of Britain's determination to maintain sovereignty over the Island. ?The scientists will not carry any arms but in the event of any aggression there is a Rapid Reaction Capability immediately available from the Falklands, while there will always been a warship in the area and regular patrol vessels calling'. With no airstrip on South Georgia it is envisage that a special force of British paratroopers will be kept in readiness on the Falklands in the event of the necessity for Rapid Reaction.

The cost of One Million pounds to provide the infrastructure for the change from Military to Civilian occupation is being borne equally by the British/Falklands and South Georgia Governments, while the anticipated annual running costs will also be ?around one million pounds' according to Professor Rapley.