MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Minister for Armed Forces to lay wreath at Argentine Cementery
The British Minister for the Armed Forces, the Right Honourable Adam Ingram M.P. will, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, lay a wreath, 'on behalf of the British Government', at the Argentine War Cemetery at Darwin. He will also lay a wreath at the Liberation Memorial in Stanley, in memory of Britons who died in the War. The Minister made the announcement during a press conference at Government House in Stanley.
Mr. Ingram said that he had been privileged to meet several veterans of the War, both military and civilian, during his visit to the Falklands, but he also remembered the Argentines who died during the 10 weeks War. 'I would obviously pay tribute to their (veterans) numerous acts of individual courage and the countless number that lost their lives on both sides in the conflict'.
The Minister will take part in a special service of commemoration which will take place on the 14 June, the 20th anniversary of the Liberation of the Islands by British Troops, from occupying Argentine Forces. More than 12,000 Argentine troops surrendered in 1982.
In a further tone of warmth towards Argentina, the Minister said, 'I think that it is encouraging to see that the tone of the commemorations have been both reflective and concilliatory towards Argentina'.
But the Armed Forces Minister was also quick to remind the Islanders that there will be no move towards entertaining Argentina's long standing sovereignty claim to the Falklands. He reiterated the recent message of The Secretary of State for Defence, Geoffrey Hoon, who during a recent visit to Argentina, Chile and the Falklands said, 'Islanders can be reassured that the United Kingdom and the current Government remain totally committed to the Falkland Islanders right to self-determination. These Islands shall remain British for as long as the Islanders wish them to'.
Minister Ingram, a Scotsman, said that 'there was no plan (by Britain) to change the level of commitment on the Islands'. He said he was very impressed with the 'enthusiasm' of the local volunteer soldiers, the Falkland Islands Defence Force, which costs the Falklands Government £350,000 a year to maintain, through equipment and munitions costs.
On the subject of the British Government's determination to reach a 'joint-sovereignty' agreement with Spain over the disputed territory of Gibraltar, and the relevance to the Falklands and the dispute with Argentina, the Minister said that 'self-determination applied in both areas', and that he was, 'not conscious that it was an issue in the Falklands. There is not a debate here and it is not as if we are trying to stimulate a debate by first testing it on Gibraltar and then trying it here (Falklands)'.
Mr. Ingram confirmed that the British Government will maintain its Military tradition, and therefore commemorate too the 25th anniversary of Liberation. 'I am sure that it will be a very major event when it happens', he said.
Patrick Watts ? Port Stanley
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