MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Robin Cook closely linked to Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands Councillor Mike Summers described former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook as a man of “great conscious and integrity”, who will be remembered for having sponsored a modern and appropriate relation between the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories.

But Mr. Cook's name is not only closely associated to the 1999 White Paper, Partnership for Progress and Prosperity which promoted self determination, ("Our Overseas Territories are British for as long as they wish to remain British"), and democratic governance in the former Dependencies, but also with the 1999 July 14th Argentine-UK Joint Statement which helped to significantly improve deteriorated neighbourly contacts between the Falkland Islands and Argentina.

Falklands Councillors participated actively in the negotiations leading to the July understanding and two of the eight elected Councillors, one of them Mr. Summers, actually witnessed the signing ceremony in London.

"I met him a few times. Mr. Cook did not take part in the discussions but he was always keen to listen, to offer advice and inevitably asked us if we were satisfied how negotiations were developing", recalls Councillor Summers.

"This was stressed throughout the discussions leading to July 1999", added three times Councillor Summers, "we were under no pressure to reach an agreement and should not do so on terms with which we were not comfortable".

Finally, following the understanding reached the Falkland Islands government lifted the ban on Argentine visitors introduced in 1982; Argentina secured the consent of Chile to the immediate resumption of the weekly Chilean airline flight between Punta Arenas and the Falklands suspended by Chile in connection with the 1998 detention of General Pinochet in London; the parties enhanced cooperation on conservation of fish stocks and implemented practical measures against poaching of fish stocks by unlicensed vessels from third countries; a memorial to members of the Argentine armed services killed in action in 1982 was to be constructed at the Argentine cemetery in Darwin; reconsideration by the Argentine government of the use of Argentine place names for Falkland Islands locations and mutual co-operation on the removal of landmines between the Argentine and British Governments.

Mr. Cook's counterpart in the July 1999 was Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Di Tella.

Reaching the agreement was not without controversy, actually one of the eight Councillors did not support it, but as Foreign Secretary Cook said at the time, "it marks a change from an era of confrontation to a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation".

Argentine Foreign Minister Guido Di Tella appealed for restraint by Argentine visitors, warning against incidents which might cause the agreement to collapse.

Governor Donald Lamont in Stanley argued "It is very important that both sides make it work well so that it can enhance confidence and relations. It is a very good agreement and a very important step forward for everyone. There will be no discrimination against Argentines, but it is not easy for the Islanders who have many unpleasant memories of 1982."

The official statement from Councillors said "Access by Argentine passport holders is a very difficult pill to swallow, but we believe it is a necessary step to take in order to retain the support of the British Public and Parliament. This agreement contains elements which are difficult, but there are significant elements too which are positive in developing the security of our economy and enhancing our rights. We believe we have secured a good deal for the Falkland Islands. However, this agreement will only work and the wider process will only prosper if the present and future governments of Argentina demonstrate, by full implementation of the whole package, that they too are willing to join in building a new relationship of confidence and mutual trust".

But the pragmatic Joint Statement has stood out the storms and it can be said is a tribute to the blend of conscious and integrity of Mr. Cook.

Gilbert House, seat of the Falklands' Legislative Council is scheduled to make an official release Monday on Mr. Cook.

Photo:London July 14, 1999, Mr. Cook sign the Argentine - Great Britain Agreement with his counterpart Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Di Tella.