MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rammell scheduled in Argentina next 16

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Bill Rammell is scheduled to visit Argentina next February 16 when he will be addressing the “whole agenda of bilateral issues”.

The two days visit is expected to include sensitive issues regarding the Falklands such as the recent ban to charter flights crossing Argentine air space, details of the Argentine Memorial to be assembled in Darwin and fisheries policy in the South Atlantic.

In a recent written statement to Parliament, Minister Rammell said that, "The cancellation of the charter flights will obviously have some negative impact on the tourist industry in the Falkland Islands. However, Falkland Islanders believe that there are principles at stake here which outweigh short term economic costs. We respect and agree with that view. Argentina is fully aware of our position and we hope that an acceptable arrangement can be reached in the interests of all parties to resolve the charter flight issue".

Argentine Foreign Secretary Rafael Bielsa pointed out that if patience is needed "we'll wait 400 years but the Islands (Malvinas) will eventually return to the mainland", and insisted that under no circumstances will he allow his Argentine passport to be stamped in the Falklands. Mr. Bielsa had been announced by the Argentine press as one of the Ministers to be present at the unveiling of the Argentine Memorial in Darwin to honour the Argentine servicemen killed during the 1982 conflict.

However, talking about bilateral relations with Britain Mr. Bielsa indicated that sometimes they are good, and sometimes not so good.

Mr. Rammell will also be visiting Brazil and Chile.