MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Appointed Falklands' governor on familiarization visit

The appointed governor of the Falkland Islands Alan Huckle spent a week in the Islands for what was described as a familiarization visit.

Mr. Huckle, a former governor of Anguilla (2004/2005) and during three years head of the Foreign Office's Overseas Territories Department met with government officials, elected Councilors, the business community and visited the British military garrison at Mount Pleasant Airport.

In a brief press conference in Stanley Mr. Huckle said he was looking forward to his new responsibilities as Falklands' governor and Commissioner of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and avoided talking about the latest resurgence of the sovereignty dispute following Argentina's presentation before the United Nations Decolonization Committee.

"The United Kingdom has always said that the sovereignty issue is not in question; the ideal of self determination for the Islanders in the basis on which the relationship with the Falkland Islands exists", he underlined.

Mr. Huckle is scheduled to arrive with Mrs. Huckle in Stanley to take office next August, a few days after current Governor Howard Pearce CVO ends his tour of duty.

Deputy Governor Miss Harriet Hall will be Acting Governor during the interregnum.

Mr. Huckle is no new hand to South Atlantic affairs since as head of the Overseas Territories Department has been involved in the UK/Argentina South Atlantic Fisheries Committee