MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Leeds Castle” forced to cancel Punta Arenas visit.

The Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry annulled this Wednesday the Punta Arenas visit of British Falklands based patrol vessel HMS Leeds Castle that was scheduled to spend a week in the Chilean port.

In a brief statement the Chilean Third Naval Zone based in Punta Arenas confirmed the cancelling of the visit but quoting Santiago British Embassy Attaché Iain Campbell.

However earlier in the day in the official Chilean Navy web site the information was quiet different: "with the purpose of establishing closer links between the British and Chilean navies as well as providing supplies and a rest and recovery period for the crew, HMS Leeds Castle, under the command of Captain Iain Lower will be visiting Punta Arenas from August 4 to 10".

After a brief description of the vessel and a community activities agenda by HMS Leeds Castle crew, the report indicated the vessel was returning to its Falklands operational base on August 10.

Punta Arenas British Consul John Rees is quoted by the local press saying he was unaware of the reasons for cancelling the visit which was transmitted "last Thursday afternoon". "The reasons must come from the (Chilean) Foreign Affairs Ministry", said Mr. Rees. However it's all a "mess" because British diplomats had come to Punta Arenas to make arrangements for HMS Leeds Castle agenda and "we've all been left in an awkward position forced to cancel invitations and events".

Punta Arenas press points out that the Falklands patrol vessels normally call in the Chilean city to grant the crew a rest period.

This Wednesday a Chilean surface fleet made up of helicopter carrier "Almirante Cochrane", support tug "Galvarino" and the recently acquired frigate "Admiral Williams" (former HMS Sheffield) plus submarine SS "Thomson", under the command of a Punta Arenas born Rear Admiral Gerardo Covacevich Castex left Punta Arenas after several days of high seas exercises.