MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince Edward and Ingram pay homage to Argentine dead

Prince Edward at Darwin cementry

Prince Edward, British Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram together with a delegation of officials and war veterans paid homage to Argentine dead at the Falkland Islands cemetery on Friday.

The wreath laying ceremony at 11:00 hours was part of a full day of activities for the Earl of Wessex who later visited Fox Bay Village to dedicate a memorial cairn honouring those who liberated West Falkland. Thursday was the 25th anniversary of Argentina's surrender to the British Task Force sent to recover the Islands which had been invaded by Argentine forces on April 2. The 74 days war started by the then Argentine military junta killed 649 Argentines, 255 British, 3 Islanders and left 2.000 more wounded. Many of the grave crosses for the 234 dead in the cemetery are for unidentified bodies and read only "Argentine soldier known only to God." "They went through the same war as us, they shouldn't be forgotten" said former combatant Graham Clark, adding that "we've forgiven, but not forgotten. It's a long time ago and we need to honour people and remember them". The Argentine cemetery in Darwin, two hours drive from Stanley, a few years ago was redesigned by Argentine architects and the new display was carried block by block to the Islands from the mainland. Although finished the cemetery still has to be officially inaugurated. Argentine Malvinas policy bans officials from having their Argentine passports stamped by Falklands authorities and local residents are very sensitive the event with a massive influx of Argentine next of kin, officials, politicians and massive media coverage could turn out into a political event. Besides the fact there?s a limited visitors capacity and logistics in the Islands, inhabited by 3.000 people, even if the ceremony is limited to one next of kin per grave. Friday afternoon Prince Edward visited the Mount Pleasant Complex, the huge air base built by the British following the war, where a military program and dinner with officers was programmed for him. On Saturday the Earl of Wessex is scheduled to unveil and dedicate a memorial to the loss of the MV Atlantic Conveyor. Midday he will be hosted with a buffet by the Islands Chamber of Commerce in Stanley and in the afternoon he will visit the Falklands Expo 25 at the Islands Community School Complex and present Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards. The day ends with a gala dinner at Stanley's Town Hall.