Stories for December 28th 2002

Saturday, December 28th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

Darwin Monument moves ahead “slowly but surely”

The Families' Commission which groups the next-of-kin of Argentine servicemen killed during the 1982 South Atlantic War responsible for building a monument to the fallen of the conflict to be constructed at the Argentine Cemetery at Darwin said yesterday that they were extremely “optimistic” that the project would get underway in the New Year.

Saturday, December 28th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

Uruguay pledges strict adherence to debt payments

Uruguay will “strictly” comply with its foreign debt obligations in 2003, Economy and Finance Minister Alejandro Atchugarry said Friday.

Saturday, December 28th 2002 - 20:00 UTC

FIBS New Review 2002

Corina Goss from FIBS reviews the highlights of the twelve months of 2002 which had a special significance for the Falklands: the twentieth anniversary of the conflict that put the Islands once again in the world media during several months. The commemorations centred in June, --Liberation Day--, but extended to November with the visit of HRH Prince Andrew and the SAMA pilgrimage. In December a new Governor with a long experience in Argentine and South Atlantic affairs, Mr. Howard Pearce took office.

However, it was also the year of the controversial abattoir and when the Islands were declared free of foot and mouth; when squid decided to move into the high seas forcing the Islands government to tighten the budget; when the first oil exploration licences since 1996, were awarded; when mounting deaths of penguins in the archipelago beaches remain as an unsolved mystery; plus the long usual list of distinguished visitors, official and non official, as the interest in these remote but unique Islands keeps growing.