MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner promises Malvinas' veterans he will visit Falklands

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner promised the relatives of the Argentine soldiers killed in the 1982 Falklands war that his administration will support financially the building of the Darwin Memorial which should be ready by next summer, reports La Nación.

During a meeting held on Tuesday in Government House (Casa Rosada) with a delegation from the Committee of next of kin of the fallen in "Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur", President Kirchner also promised to be present when the official inauguration of the memorial.

The delegation was headed by the president of the Committee Héctor Cisneros; vice president Leandro Martín de la Colina, and Delmira De Cao who accompanied President Kirchner during his recent visit to Great Britain in representation of the "Malvinas" mothers.

Mr. Cisneros is quoted saying that President Kirchner promised all the funds necessary for the construction, "which means most of the sum, since we've not managed to collect much in the events we've organized".

Mr. Cisneros revealed that the cost of building the Memorial is being discussed with a Falklands company that is demanding a million US dollars, "but according to estimates from Argentine construction companies it shouldn't cost more than half a million US dollars".

Work in the Memorial could begin next month and should be over in 90 to 120 days on time for a summer inauguration.

The Darwin Memorial according to Mr. Cisneros will have 24 plaques with the names of the 649 Argentine combatants who died during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict. Apparently the monument will be 57 metres long, two high with a three meters tall cross and a natural sized image of Argentina's patron the Virgin of Lujan.

La Nación underlines that members of the delegation were most impressed and emotional about the way they were received in Casa Rosada and President Kirchner's sensitivity.

If Mr. Kirchner fulfils his promise it will be the first time even an Argentine president sets foot on the Islands and possibly a turning point in contacts between the Falklands and mainland.