MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Tell the world about the Modern Falklands”

The 20th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict should be used to project a positive picture to the world of the modern Falkland Islands and the tremendous progress made in recent years. That's the view of Lord Hurd, former British Foreign Secretary and the first ever to visit the Falkland Islands -- in 1994.

He believes the Blair Government is totally committed to the Islanders' wish to retain British sovereignty and that it must abide by its pledges to both the Falkland Islands and the people of Gibraltar. After more than two years as President of the Falkland Islands Association, Lord Hurd gave his views and reminisced about his family's ties with the Falkland Islands, in an interview in London with the Association's Newsletter.

Lord Hurd said: "The main purpose of the Falkland Islands Association is to keep knowledge flowing between the Islands and the UK and to make sure Government ministers, Parliament and the Press are aware of things they need to know. I'm glad to help with that".

On the 20th anniversary, he said: "The Falkland Islands are a very special place... We need to make an effort, to use the 20th anniversary of the Conflict to draw attention to the fact that the Falkland Islands are not just a place where there was a war...History will always be important. But the anniversary provides an opportunity to talk and write more about the Islands as they are today, and about the changes.

"It is important for a Government Minister to go for the anniversary celebrations (as it has promised). The Government and the Falkland Islands Association should use the opportunity to advertise and say something accurate and encouraging about the Islands as they are now in 2002, and correct the ignorance which still exists".

On the issue of sovereignty, which Argentina persists in claiming, Lord Hurd said:" I don't have any lack of confidence in present Ministers, with whom I have discussed it.... On the fundamental sovereignty issue, we have to make sure Ministers are wholly clear, but there are also occasional subsidiary issues which come up, where it is useful to have people in the House of Commons or Lords to put down a question".

UK Commitment to Gibraltar

Asked whether his confidence has been shaken by the dispute over Gibraltar's sovereignty and suggestions it may be surrendered to Spain, he replied: "The UK commitment to the Gibraltar is basically similar, that not just the interests, but the wishes of the Falklands Islanders and the Gibraltarians, are paramount.

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