MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Charter flights: Bielsa will “attempt a solution”

Argentine diplomatic sources quoted this Monday in the Buenos Aires press said Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa will “attempt to find a solution” to the charter flights from the continent to the Falkland Islands dispute when he meets Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in New York early September.

Mr. Bielsa will be travelling with Argentine president Nestor Kirchner to the opening ceremony of the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September 1 and 2.

Last year Argentina drastically limited the number of charter flights from the continent (Chile) to the Falklands by denying authorization to cross Argentine air space and conditioned their resumption to the establishment of direct regular flights, with an Argentine air carrier, from Argentina to the Islands.

Given the opposition of Islanders to regular direct links with Argentina involving an Argentine airline, the British Foreign Office proposed an "open skies" policy which was rejected by Argentina fearing Islanders attitude.

British Ambassador in Buenos Aires Sir Robin Christopher during his most recent public statements has insisted in London's "disappointment" with the current emphasis of Argentine policy regarding Falklands/Malvinas.