MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina criticised for hostility to Falklands
Strong Criticism of Argentina's intensified hostility towards the Falkland Islands has been expressed by the Falkland Islands Association (FIA).
The Association's Chairman Mr David Tatham, a former Governor of the Falkland Islands, speaking at its annual general meeting in London, declared: "A tone of increased hostility from Argentina has been a feature of the year". He attributed this to the confrontational style of the Argentine President, Mr Kirchner, and to the need of the former Foreign Minister, Rafael Bielsa, to join Congress in the October elections.
Mr Tatham condemned Argentina's continuing interference with charter flights to the Islands which has made it difficult for international tour operators to service cruise ships in Stanley. Argentina obviously intended to concentrate the cruise ship trade in its own southern port of Ushuaia.
Commenting on the annual Falklands reception held in London in June attended by former Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher, and many Falkland Islands supporters, Mr Tatham said it was such a success that it aroused Argentine press criticism as "an Anti-Argentine occasion".
But this ignored the excellent speech then by the Falklands Government Representative in London, Miss Sukey Cameron, pointing out that Falklands elected councillors have "reiterated continuing commitment to co-operating with Argentina in agreed areas of mutual interest and, in particular, the protection of the region's environment and fish stocks".
Mr Tatham regretted that there has been Argentine criticism of new Falklands' fishing legislation and also inclusion of the Islands in the European Treaty of enlargement, not noticing that the Islands are an associated territory of the Union mentioned in every treaty since Britain joined the European Community in 1973.
Strong support for Falkland Islands Mr Tatham said: "The reaction of British Government Ministers to Argentine pressure has been commendably firm and the Association congratulates them.
Mr Tatham congratulated the new and re-elected Falklands Councillors in November's General Election. He thanked former Councillors Jan Cheek, Norma and Roger Edwards and John Birmingham "for their support of the Association and for everything they have done for the Islands and their people during their years on the Council".
The Association looked forward to meeting the newly-elected Councillors on their visits to the United Kingdom.
Councillor Mike Summers, attending the meeting, commended the work of the Association which he pledged would continue to have continued Falkland Islands Government support.
Mr Tatham said honorary membership of the Association has been granted to a staunch champion of the Falkland Islands, Mr Joe Bossano, former Prime Minister of Gibraltar, now Opposition leader, and also to British and Canadian Parliamentarians who have visited the Islands.
Another leading supporter and recent visitor to the Islands, Mr Andrew Rosindell, who is secretary of Parliament's All-Party Falkland Islands Group, said the Islands had the full support of many Members of Parliament.
Mr Tatham voiced gratitude to the Association's Chairman in the Falkland Islands, Mr Gerald Cheek, for keeping the Association in touch with events in Stanley and with the concerns of Island members.
For the first time for many years, the Association's former Chairman, Sir Rex Hunt, who was Falkland Islands Governor at the time of the 1982 Argentine invasion, could not attend the annual meeting because he has a cracked rib.
Top Falklands Student Overseas The Bill Hunter-Christie prize for the outstanding Falkland Islands student studying abroad this year has been awarded to a Falkland Islands Defence Force member, Zoran Zuvic, studying at Peter Symonds College in the United Kingdom.
Nearly all previous winners have been female students since inauguration of the prize several years ago in memory of the London barrister, Bill Hunter-Christie, a freeman of Stanley, who championed the Falklands cause against Argentine threat for many years. The prize was handed over by his widow, Mrs Merle Christie, who is a Vice-President of the Association.
Zoran Zuvic who is a Falkland Islands Defence Force member with ambitions to joining armed forces, took part in the traditional memorial ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall preceding the annual meeting.
The service was conducted by the Reverend Peter Millam, a former rector of Christ Church in Stanley.
Memorial Wreaths for War Dead The ceremony commemorates the Battle of the Falklands which destroyed the German South Atlantic Fleet in the First World in 1914, as well as the sacrifices of the British servicemen who died in the 1982 war, the Royal Navy men lost in the Falklands flotilla's destruction of the German battleship Graf Spee in the December 1939 Battle of the River Plate in the Second World, 1939/1945.
A wreath in memory of the Armed Forces was laid by Commander G. Northwood of the Royal Navy. Wreaths were also laid by Mr Tatham for the FIA; Councillor Mike Summers and Miss Sukey Cameron for the Falkland Islands Government; Mrs Sara Jones, CBE (widow of Lieutenant Colonel H. Jones, VC) and Mrs Paula Shear for the Falkland Families Association; Captain Martin Reed (formerly of the liner Canberra in 1982) for the South Atlantic Medal Association of which he is chairman; by students representing the young people of the Falkland Islands; Mr Maurice Jones for the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men, which has traditional links with the Falkland Islands and the First World War battle; and by former Lieutenant Commander Roger Wager, until recently Executive Secretary of the FIA, who served in the Royal Navy in the 1982 Falklands War. His uncle Able Seaman William Charles Dale fought in the 1914 Battle of the Falklands in HMS Invincible and was later killed in the Battle of Jutland.
A Royal Naval Colour Party and representatives of Pangbourne College (where the Falklands Memorial Chapel is built) took part in the ceremony, at which Royal Marines buglers played the Last Post and Reveille. The parade marshal was Air Commodore Peter Johnson, a former Commander of British Forces in the Falklands.
Harold Briley, London
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!