MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner's administration: “the most hostile since Galtieri”

Argentine media reacted this week to the editorial of the latest “Falkland Islands Newsletter” edition which describes the current President Kirchner government ”as the most hostile since (General) Galtieri”.

The "Falkland Islands Newsletter" is edited and produced in Britain by British supporters of the Islands and is entirely dedicated to South Atlantic affairs. South America press highlight extracts of the editorial mentioning that Mr. Kirchner's "hard line policies have been met with stern rebuke and strengthened British and Falkland Islands Governments' determination to uphold Islanders' right to self-determination".

The editorial describes Argentina as "a crime-ridden, corrupt, bankrupt country, which its own ambassador to Spain recently described as "on the verge of anarchy"", adding that it "petulantly blocks tourist charter flights between Chile and the Falklands and harasses legal fishing in Falklands' waters. These antagonistic actions are unworthy of an educated democratic nation".

However, "the combination of Argentine and financial pressure will change nothing. The Falklands continue to diversify economically and will not be influenced by temporary problems" and underlines "Britain's unshakeable commitment (to the Falklands) is demonstrable in the formidable forces stationed there".

Below the full text of the editorial:

British Rebuke for Argentine Intimidation.

Argentina's aggressive actions against the Falkland Islands have plunged relations to their lowest depths since the 1982 Falklands War ended military rule.

President Kirchner's Government is regarded as the most hostile since General Galtieri. His hard line policies have been met with stern rebuke and strengthened British and Falkland Islands Governments' determination to uphold Islanders' right to self-determination and to safeguard their security. Britain's unshakeable commitment is demonstrable in the formidable forces stationed there.

Blunt messages from Falklands Councillors, the Governor and the British Ambassador in Buenos Aires have warned Argentina it is pursuing the wrong policies in the wrong way. This concerted unambiguous message impresses upon the Kirchner Government that it is totally mistaken to believe that what the Falklands Government condemns as "blatant and unprincipled intimidation" can bully Islanders into accepting unwanted Argentine scheduled flights, or lead to sovereignty negotiations. That is out of the question.

What the British Government requires is that Argentina be a good neighbor, living in peace and constructive co-operation. Instead, Argentina is a crime-ridden, corrupt, bankrupt country, which its own ambassador to Spain recently described as "on the verge of anarchy". It petulantly blocks tourist charter flights between Chile and the Falklands and harasses legal fishing in Falklands' waters. These antagonistic actions are unworthy of an educated democratic nation.

Argentina's aggressive actions come at a time of economic difficulty for the Falklands. This season's Illex squid catch is the worst on record - probably because of changes in the ocean currents around the Falklands. This has caused a serious fall in Falklands' income. To replace this, the Government has made budget cuts and drawn on the substantial reserves it has wisely put aside in the past for just such a "rainy day".

The combination of Argentine and financial pressure will change nothing. The Falklands continue to diversify economically and will not be influenced by temporary problems.