MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands: MoD mine experts coming in March

The British Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are making progress on a feasibility study to recommend options for clearing mines from the Falkland Islands left from the 1982 conflict.

According to Focus Magazine, (an MOD magazine), as part of this project Colonel Julian Wathen and Lieutenant Colonel Robin Swanson are scheduled to make a fact-finding mission to the Falklands in March.

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

Falklands' elected Councillor Mike Summers is quoted saying that it is important everyone in the MOD and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are aware of the practicalities of removing mines and that the visit would be a good opportunity to inform themselves once again of the issues and of peoples' opinions in the Islands.

Councillor Summers added that he understands the British Governments obligations under the Ottawa Treaty to remove and destroy all anti-personnel mines from their territories, but says that he wouldn't want the Falklands to be criticised for wasting money.

In the past, the Falklands Government has encouraged groups such as Landmine Action to remove mines in places of greater need such as Cambodia.

The Ottawa Treaty requires the removal of mines by the year 2009 unless there is a good reason for doing so.

The July 1999 Joint United Kingdom-Argentina Statement confirmed co-operation on the problem, stating that "the two governments will continue to work together to evaluate the feasibility and cost of clearing the land mines".

First Secretary Harriet Hall says that while the Argentine Government has the funds for the project, negotiations are still ongoing on the terms of reference for the feasibility study and how it might take place.

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 an official Argentine release as "positive".(FIRS/MP)