MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Flights Ball In Argentine Court, Says Falklands Governor.
If Argentina wants to discuss the subject of flights between the South American continent and the Falklands, then they should first respond to the British proposals on the table said Falkland Islands Governor, Howard Pearce, speaking in Stanley, on Tuesday.
Without giving details, Governor Pearce said that it was no secret that proposals made to the Argentine Government by Britain, after detailed consultation with Falkland Islands councillors, had not met with approval in Buenos Aires. What had not been made plain was the reason why these proposals, for an ‘open skies' policy with regard to charter flights to Mount Pleasant airport in the Falklands, had not proved acceptable. Until these reasons had been explained, "it was difficult to take things forward." Maintaining that the position of the UK Government is clear that no agreement regarding flights will be made without the consent of the Falkland Islanders themselves, the Governor concluded "The ball is in the Argentine court".
Several days ago Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa repeated Argentina's demand for direct flights to the Falklands from Argentina. He again made it clear that Argentina wants this before it would consider allowing the resumption of non-Argentine charter flights to the Falklands that he suspended last year. Making the point that he would not discuss this with the Islanders he said: "We talk to Great Britain. We don't talk to Crown subjects who inhabit Argentine territory"
Over some years the Falkland Islands has been building a reputation as a gateway port for expedition cruise ships operating to Antarctica and South Georgia. This growing segment of the Islands tourist industry, which offers a number of commercial spin-offs to local service providers and produce suppliers, depends largely on charter flights from Chile to carry cruise ship passengers to and from the Islands. The ban on such flights, shortly after the beginning of the last Southern Hemisphere tourist season, dealt a serious blow to tourism in the Falklands, but coincidentally favoured the Argentine Antarctic gateway port of Ushuaia.
John Fowler (MP) Stanley
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