MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duke of York in Uruguay

Prince Andrew, Duke of York arrives to Uruguay from Brazil today midday for a one day official visit before heading for Chile and ultimately the Falkland Islands in time to commemorate Sunday Remembrance Day.

In Montevideo Prince Andrew is scheduled to hold a private meeting with Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle followed by lunch in the presidential residence. In the evening the second son of Queen Elizabeth has a full agenda that begins with a reception at the British Embassy, the inauguration of an artisans and handicraft exhibition sponsored by Uruguay's First Lady, and finally a meeting with the British community and British School students at the school's campus. Wednesday morning the Duke of York who is also a representative of British Trade International will be holding a closed meeting with British investors in the residence of Ambassador John Everard. At mid morning the Duke of York will tour the British Hospital where he will meet doctors and staff from one of the leading medical institutions in Uruguay that also has long standing close links with the Falklands. Departure for Chile from Carrasco Airport is scheduled for 11:30. The one week visit to South America of Falklands veteran Prince Andrew coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict and the pilgrimage to the Islands of former combatants grouped in SAMA 82, South Atlantic Medal Association. Uruguay next to the River Plate and strategically located between Brazil and Argentina has traditionally had close political, diplomatic and trade relations with Britain stretching back to the independence of the South American country in 1830. Besides for decades the port of Montevideo was the natural link of the Falklands to the South American continent.

Prince Andrew in Chile

This Wednesday Prince Andrew will be arriving in Santiago for a two days official visit to Chile before flying on November 8th to the Falklands. During his visit the Duke of York will have a full agenda that includes an interview with President Raúl Lagos, meetings with Chilean Navy representatives, a visit to one of the world's main observatories plus several activities to promote British-Chilean trade and British science and culture. With president Lagos Prince Andrew who is a special representative of British Trade International, is expected to talk about bilateral trade, the recent EU-Chile agreement and the close links between both countries. Other top level engagements scheduled are with Chilean Deputy Foreign Secretary, Christian Barros and with Economy Minister Jorge Rodríguez Grossi. Prince Andrew will also be officially launching MG-Rover car sales in Chile; inaugurating an itinerant British art exhibition of modern painters; having lunch with the Chilean-British Commerce Chamber and meeting former students from British universities at the British Council in Santiago. One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to the Gemini Observatory that holds one of the two telescopes that keep humans in permanent 24 hours monitoring of the cosmos. The other is in Mauna Kea, Hawaii and the Prince was present when its inauguration in 1999. At the Observatory the Prince who has a special interest in astronomy will also meet British scientists working in international projects. Back in Valparaíso in the last day of his Chilean tour, Prince Andrew will meet Navy Commander Admiral Miguel Vergara and visit the Naval Academy. Early afternoon the Duke of York leaves for the Falklands. According to the British Embassy in Santiago Britain is the fourth investor in Chile and this country's main trade partner in Europe, and third at world level. British interests are concentrated in mining, oil, finance and waterworks. Earlier this year in March Baroness Symons, visited Chile and last October Housing Minister Jaime Ravinet was invited to Britain.