MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK Defence man to make Falklands landmine visit

A Lieutenant Colonel from the British Ministry of Defence is to pay a familiarisation visit to the Falkland Islands early next year to examine the situation with landmines.

Falklands Councillor Andrea Clausen reported that at General Purposes Committee last week, councillors felt this was a good time, "...for us to push the Falklands initiative forward, especially in light of the fact that the plans for the feasibility study are progressing well."

Lt Col Robin Swanson is the Royal Engineer at the MoD responsible for mines.

Councillor Clausen said Councillor Davies will be the point of contact for this subject, "...given that it involves land-use for which he is the portfolio holder."

Last November Argentina and Great Britain agreed in London to continue with the feasibility studies for the de-mining of the Falklands/Malvinas, according to Argentine sources.

The sixth meeting of the Joint Task Group for a feasibility study on the de-mining of the Falklands/Malvinas took place between November 21 and 23 with the participation of diplomats and experts from Argentina and United Kingdom, and was described in the Argentine release as "positive".

The Joint Task Group assessed the overall objectives of the feasibility study, financial and technical issues as well as administrative and contract affairs "having reached understandings on several practical aspects".

It was also agreed to keep advancing on several tasks during the inter-meetings period, so as to comply with the shared commitment of elaborating the feasibility study in the framework of the Ottawa Convention on antipersonnel mines. Both sides agreed, tentatively, to hold the next meeting of the Joint Task Group in Buenos Aires, March 2006. (PN/MP).-