MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Military operation are our priority”

The Commander British Forces Falkland Islands, Air Commodore John Cliffe, has told a concerned Islands population that despite the recent withdrawal of British troops from the Island of South Georgia, ?we will go back and land troops from time to time on exercise, to show that we can reinforce rapidly if the need arises'.

His warning to any intending aggressors was delivered over Falklands radio on Tuesday. Since Argentine Forces were evicted in 1982, there has been a constant British Military presence on the Islands, which lies 800 southeast of the Falklands.

The Commander whose previous Falklands experience includes a tour in 1984 in charge of the Phantom Fighter Aircraft, was asked if he felt that there was any danger of a future invasion of South Georgia (by Argentine Forces) said ?I hope not'. He added that the troops based in the Falklands will ?provide a deterrent in South Georgia, while we will do regular reconnaissance through Royal Naval ship patrols to the area'.

In a surprise move he stated publicly that the length of the tour of duty in the Falklands by each respective Commander, currently of 12 months, should be extended to ?at least 18 months, but ideally 2 years'. He insisted that the 12 months tour was ?far too short' as it did not allow each Commander's financial planning for the Military Base, to be put into practice, and was accordingly dealt with by his successor.

On the controversial subject of whether the Base Commander should sit on the policymaking Executive Council of the Falklands, Air Commodore Cliff said that he favored a continuation of the system which has prevailed since 1982. ?It allows me to get a better understanding of what the important issues are in terms of policy in the islands', he maintained.

The Commander defended the recent decision that rejected a request by the Lan Chile airline to introduce a second weekly flight to the Falklands and alter their present Saturday schedule to an earlier time. ?Mt. Pleasant Airport could cope with extra flights but Military operations are our priority', he said. However he gave hope that a compromise might be forthcoming by stating that talks are ongoing between the Command Secretariat (the financial arm of the Military Base) and the Falkland Islands Development Corporation who are acting on behalf of Lan Chile.