MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' de-mining study takes off in summer

Argentina and the United Kingdom exchanged Thursday notes regarding a Malvinas/Falkland Islands de-mining feasibility study which is scheduled to become effective next summer 2006/07.

The exchange of notes took place in the framework of an agreement reached in October, 2001, reported the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry.

According to the official release the exchange of notes, signed Thursday is extensive to unexploded ordnance which remains in the mine planted areas of the Falklands, as established in the October 2001 agreement, plus the instrumentation of several practical aspects in advance of next summer's feasibility study.

Both governments will be sending the text of the understanding to the United Nations Secretary General for its distribution as an official document in the coming General Assembly under the title of "Malvinas/Falkland Islands question".

Further reports will be presented under the obligations emerging from the Ottawa Convention (for the elimination of antipersonnel mines).

The Argentine release underlines that the exchange of notes took place under the current sovereignty formula.