MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine War Cemetery Memorial in Falklands ? No Progress.

It is now 18 months since the Argentine Government last communicated with the Falkland Islands Government over a proposed permanent War Memorial that is to be sighted in the Argentine War Cemetery at Darwin, some 60 miles from the capital Port Stanley

Speaking at a public meeting in Port Stanley, that was attended by more than 100 people, Councillor Norma Edwards said that 18 months ago an architect and engineer from Argentina visited the Islands and held discussions with Councillors about the proposed Memorial. Drawings, which the 2 Argentines brought with them, depicted a structure 30 feet (approximately 10 meters) in height, which was deemed unacceptable by the Falklands Government. ?Nothing has been heard from Buenos Aires since then', confirmed Councillor Edwards.

According to Councillors, it has been made clear to the Argentine Government that any proposal to construct a Memorial inside the War cemetery, must be submitted to the Planning and Building Committee, of which Councillor Edwards is currently the Chairperson. ?I hope that the public will be fully consulted before any final decision is made on the dimensions of the Memorial', said Norma Edwards. Fears that the structure may be painted in the Argentine national colours of blue and white were strenuously denied by the 8 Councillors who attended the meeting. They insisted that no colour scheme had been decided, but assured concerned members of the public that blue and white was not a consideration.

One elected Councillor reminded the gathering that all planning applications are published weeks in advance of the Planning and Building Committee meetings, and accordingly the public will have plenty of time to make their feelings known if and when an application from Argentina is received.

?On one occasion a Memorial plan that depicted a blue and white Virgin Mary had been received in the Falklands from Buenos Aires, but this has been held in abeyance', said Councillor Edwards.

Councillor William Luxton expressed a view that ?they (Argentine Government) have serious difficulty in the concept of having to apply to the Planning and Building Committee (of the Falklands) for permission, so that is their problem not ours'.