MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British Minister to discuss “peace-keeping” in Afghanistan, with Argentine government?

The British Secretary of State for Defence, Geoffrey Hoon, is according to an official of the Ministry of Defence, likely to raise the issue of Argentine military involvement in Afghanistan, supporting the ?war against terror'.

Mr. Hoon is due to arrive in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, after visiting Santiago on Tuesday, and will meet the Argentine Defence Minister and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

David Hobart, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, who accompanied Minister Hoon on his brief one-day visit to the Falkland Islands, said at Government House in Stanley, that, prior to the resignation of former President Fernando De La Rua, ?there was a substantial debate within the Government as to whether Argentina should contribute to the Security Forces in Afghanistan'. He said that, ?A contribution from Argentina to the global war on terror would be much appreciated by the United Kingdom Government'. Mr. Hobart said that it was anticipated that the British Defence Minister would be likely to discuss the possible Argentine contribution with his counterpart in Buenos Aires.

Mr. Hoon denied that the events of September 11 in New York would mean a reduction in British troops defending the Falklands. ?It will have no impact on Forces levels here' he told Falkland's journalists. However he did confirm that the Ministry of Defence are always looking to, ?civilianize' where possible. ?We will make use of civilians where appropriate, but always bearing in mind how stable the situation is in the South Atlantic', said the Defence Minister. ?It is the nature of the Military process to review troop levels and replace scarce Military skills with civilians where applicable', he emphasized.

Meanwhile Councillor Norma Edwards expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of a meeting, which Mr. Hoon had with elected Councillors in Port Stanley. ?He did mention further cooperation with Argentina but I told him that we had probably gone as far down that road as was possible. We have been engaged in Fisheries scientific exchanges for sometime, and Joint Search & Rescue sea missions. There really are not many other areas where we can cooperate with Argentina unless they drop their sovereignty claim,' said Mrs. Edwards. She was the only Councillor to oppose the signing of the July 1999 Joint Statement by the British, Argentine and Falklands Governments, which allows Argentine nationals to visit the Falklands, following a 17 years ban.

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