MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK/Argentina “positive” meeting on Falklands' de-mining

Argentina and Britain held another round of talks last week in London for the clearance of land mines in the Falkland Islands and announced a next meeting in September in Buenos Aires.

According to the official release the Joint Working Party (JWP) for carrying out a feasibility study on the clearance of land mines in the Falklands/Malvinas discussed the different issues involved in a "constructive and positive atmosphere", agreeing to move forward on several tasks "during the intersessional period" with a view of fulfilling the shared commitment to carry out the study within the framework of the Ottawa Convention on elimination of anti-personnel mines.

The JWP tenth meeting on July 20/21 with participation of experts and diplomats from both parties addressed "technical and financial aspects as well as management and contractual issues" of the land mines clearance feasibility study.

The meeting took place in accordance with the understanding recorded in the Exchange of Notes of 11 October 2001, and is covered by the formula on sovereignty included in those notes.

An estimated 15,000 anti personnel mines, planted by the Argentines remain buried in the Islands since 1982. The Ottawa Treaty requires the removal and destruction of mines by the year 2009.

Foreign Office sources in the Falklands have in the past revealed that the Argentine government has the funds for the project, however there are some practicalities which still must be sorted out such as the Islanders rejection to receive experts dressed in Argentine military uniforms.

According to the British Ministry of Defence publication, Focus, last March two British Army experts visited the Islands for a fact finding mission, in the framework of the land mines clearance feasibility study. The visit was coordinated by MOD and the Foreign Office.