MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Shadow Foreign Secretary Hague visits Falkland Islands

Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague, will be visiting Brazil this weekend before travelling on to the Falkland Islands in the week of the 25th anniversary of the Argentine invasion.

The visit to Brazil, mainly aimed at discussing future international action on climate change, follows Conservative calls for a deepening of relationships with the nations of South America. Mr Hague has already called for Brazil to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council when reform of that body takes place. Brazil is home to one of the largest remaining areas of rainforest. The country is also experiencing massive economic growth. Whilst there, Mr Hague will discuss the potential for future international treaties on the environment with the aim of addressing climate change. On Tuesday, Mr Hague will meet the Governor of the Falklands Islands and members of the Islands' Council. He will reaffirm the Conservative Party's commitment to the security of the Falklands while also stressing the importance attached to friendly relations with Argentina. In recent statements before leaving for South America Hague praised the British and Falklands governments saying that: "It is very welcome that the Governments are making arrangements for the relatives of the Argentine dead to visit the Falklands, and it is absolutely right to work for improved co-operation with Argentina". However he also pointed out that "we must remember on this important anniversary that the Falklands war was the result of an unprovoked act of aggression", and "it was the heroism of the gallant British armed services that ensured the right to self determination of the Falkland islanders and the maintenance of international law."