MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“We're happy to be included as EU Overseas Territory”

President Nestor Kirchner strong policy towards the Falklands plus satisfaction for the Islands inclusion as European Overseas Territories, in spite of Argentina, are some of the issues addressed by Councillor Norma Edwards in an interview published in the latest edition of the Buenos Aires magazine “Gente”.

Norma Edwards was interviewed on the phone before the British general election and in the lead picture of the article appears standing in front of the Falkland Islands government office.

"We're happy to have been included in the (World) map as European Overseas Territories, although the UK has yet to ratify the European Constitution", says Mrs. Edwards who nevertheless admits that "it won't change our lives" in spite of having upset the Argentines.

Islanders are not full members of the European Community, "we're third category members", meaning "we're overseas British which is good and we're sorry about Argentina's objections", explains Councillor Edwards.

Mrs. Edwards also finds it surprising and very odd, that Argentina should be protesting and showing interest in a constitution that has over a year and was discussed in all international forums.

"We reject the Argentine government stance. We know where we stand and we're sure the British government is quite clear about our status. We're waiting for the Foreign Office to respond to Argentine protests".

Describing the Kirchner administration policy towards Falklands as more "hard line" than predecessor presidents Menem and De la Rúa, Councillor Edwards says that "in fact currently we have no relations of any kind with Argentina, and this attitude does not help to re-establish them. But anyhow we don't care, we're use to it".

As to a better understanding in the future, Mrs. Edwards reveals she will be 64 this year and "my whole life we've under that tension because of Argentine claims".

"We're British and we'll remain British. If Argentina accepts this we could be good neighbours, in fact I have many friends in Patagonia", says Mrs. Edwards underlining her family arrived in the Falklands in 1846 and that "these territories have been British for a long time".

"What about the new generations, do they perceive Argentina as a hostile country?" asks the reporter to which Councillor Edwards replies that "they know things have changed in Argentina but they still feel as hostile the sovereignty claims over the Islands. They consider, and have no doubts about it, that the Islands are British and will remain as such".

Mrs. Edwards describes the Islands' economy as "quite stable" in spite of the last two "not too positive years" because of a significant contraction in income from fisheries, an area "where we have common interests with Argentina, particularly in resource conservation".

Regarding the "disproportionate" British military presence in MPA, Councillor Edwards replied that from a military point of view, in principle, it seems senseless since the Argentine government has said it will only back sovereignty claims with peaceful means, but "that's what they say".

Photo by P. Pepper