MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands “Masters of their own Destiny”. UK must not betray them.

The Falkland Islands Association has pledged continuing vigilance to prevent any weakening of United Kingdom resistance to Argentina's sovereignty claims.

At its annual general meeting (on December 8), the Association endorsed the Executive Committee's report in which the Chairman, Sir Rex Hunt, recalling his last visit to the Falklands, declared: ?I sensed a new feeling that permeated through the population, from the schoolchildren to the Councillors, and that was one of self-confidence. The Islands have always been self-reliant, but they have had to be in order to survive. But this new feeling was different.

"Despite Argentina's continuing claim, they face the future with confidence, in the firm belief that they can, and will, be masters of their own destiny. It is up to us in the Falkland Islands Association to see that they are not betrayed by those in Whitehall and Westminster who would still like to get rid of them for the sake of better relations with Argentina"

An Association delegation led by Sir Rex briefed the new Foreign office Minister for Latin American and Falkland issues, Dr Denis McShane, in November when he reiterated previous Ministers' assurance "that sovereignty of the Falkland Islands was not negotiable and that HMG would continue to uphold the Islanders' right to self-determination".

Sir Rex said Dr MacShane confirmed that sovereignty had not been discussed in the talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and Argentine President De La Rua at their meeting on the Brazilian/Argentine border in August".

Minister's Assurances on Falklands Gibraltar fears

Sir Rex told the Minister that the recent talks between the British and Spanish Governments on Gibraltar sovereignty "had set alarm bells" ringing again in the Falkland Islands. "Dr MacShane assured us that the Islanders had nothing to fear and explained the many differences between Gibraltar's position and that of the Falklands.

"On the July '99 Agreement (improving Argentine-Falklands contacts), Ted Clapp (honorary treasurer) expressed the view commonly held in the Falkland Islands that, while the British and Falkland Islands Governments had carried out their responsibilities fully in accordance with the Agreement, the Argentine Government appeared to have been dragging its feet. Dr MacShane said that progress had been made, particularly in fishe