MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two Lords and four MPs visit Argentina

Two Lords and four British MPs are on a two days official visit to Argentina interested in knowing the political situation of the country and strengthening bilateral relations.

The delegation is made up of Lords Dholakia and Roper, both Liberal-Democrats and MPs, Gordon Prentice, Lindsay Hoyle, Geraldine Smith from the ruling Labour party and Conservative Mark Lancaster.

Thursday they are scheduled to meet with Vice president Daniel Scioli in the Senate and Eduardo Camaño, currently president of the Lower House.

The agenda of issues also includes Falklands/Malvinas which will be addressed in a joint meeting with Senators Ramon Puerta and Pedro Salvatori and Deputies Jorge Argüello and Humberto Roggero.

Although the British legislators arrive in a transition period since following the recent legislative elections the Argentine Congress is involved in the naming of new speakers and chairmen of committees, reflecting President Nestor Kirchner's stronger support, the scheduled meetings have been described as "positive" for both sides.

According to the Argentine press even when President Kirchner has concentrated Foreign affairs in his office with Minister Rafael Bielsa, for British MPs multi party overseas visits are a long standing and efficient fact finding practice particularly when it involves new governments such is the case with Argentina where following last October's mid term election half the Lower House and a third of the Senate will be taking office next December 10.

Among the visiting MPs the Argentine press points out Lindsay Hoyle who since 2001, is chair to the Gibraltar Group and among his countries of interest figure Gibraltar, Falkland Islands and British Overseas Territories.

Five MPs recently toured the Falkland Islands with a special interest in the military stationed in MPA. On ending the weeklong visit the five stated in a press conference in Stanley that the money in the Islands defence "is well spent".

The delegation was made up of Andrew Rosindell (Conservative); Labour MP Brian Donohoe; Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth; Gerald Howarth MP Conservative and shadow Minister on Defence and Peter Bottomley, Conservative.