MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Irizar” incident: Councillors support FOC “robust line”

Falkland Islands elected Councillors are very satisfied with the Foreign Office's “robust line” towards Argentina regarding the recent incident of the naval icebreaker “Almirante Irizar” sailing through Falklands' waters and challenging other vessels to identify themselves.

Speaking this week to the local Falklands' radio, Councillor Stephen Luxton said that there's been a formal protest lodged with the Argentine Ambassador in London and, "this in diplomatic terms is quite a significant incident because it's not something that's done unless a quite serious incident takes place". "Yes, the Council is very satisfied with the robust line that's been taken with the Argentines over this incident by the Foreign Office", stressed Mr. Luxton. Earlier this week, Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell reiterated United Kingdom sovereignty over the Falkland Islands while informing British Parliament that on March 15 and 16 the Argentine naval icebreaker "Almirante Irizar" sailed through the Falklands Outer Conservation Zone and the Falklands, areas for which the Falklands government issues licences.

Mr. Rammell added that while transit of the conservation zones is permissible, the policing of the zones by a foreign vessel contravenes the Falkland Islands exclusive jurisdiction.
"We asked the Argentine government for an explanation of the vessel's actions. Their response was not satisfactory. We have therefore made a formal protest to the Argentine government concerning the actions of the Almirante Irizar, underlining the need to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again".
"This note also reiterated that HMG has no doubts about UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands", underlined the Foreign Office Minister.

Commenting on the terms of the British protest, and the "non comeback" from the Argentines so far, Councillor Luxton said that hopefully this probably means "the (Argentines) have realized that they've overstepped the mark a bit".

"When you actually look at some of the language in the statement, they (Foreign Office) say things like the policing of the zones by a foreign vessel contravene the Falkland Islands exclusive jurisdiction, which is in diplomatic terms very strong language".

The Buenos Aires daily La Nación reported on Tuesday that the Argentine Government claimed that the "Almirante Irizar" was carrying out fishing control operations in Argentine waters when she is alleged to have been in the Falklands commercial zone.

The newspaper's website quoted the Argentine Foreign Ministry as saying: "The Irizar was engaged in fishing-control operations in waters under Argentine jurisdiction, including the fishing prohibition zone and the area west of this zone, as agreed with the United Kingdom in 1989 and 1990 when diplomatic relations were restored.

The article adds: "during its voyage the ship was in contact for security purposes with British ships, in accordance with maritime rules and customs. Given the lack of squid in this season, the Argentine government has taken great precautions to protect fish species, which includes control of illegal fishing,"

La Nacion speculates that Argentina will be compelled to make an official response over the incident after the UK Government issued a formal protest earlier this week. Actually the protest was formally presented to Ambassador Federico Mirré in London last Thursday.

Another important Buenos Aires daily, Clarin reported on Tuesday that "The Almirante Irizar episode seems to be just one more point in the rising level of tensions between Buenos Aires and London".