MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands: Mine clearance is 'out of our hands'

ALTHOUGH Falklands people would rather see the mines laid by Argentine Forces in 1982 left in place and the proposed funding for removing them used on more urgent places in the world, it is “not that simple,” Councillor Summers has said.

The UK was in the difficult position of having "twisted arms" of other countries to join the Ottawa Convention and see all mines cleared by 2009, and it would be difficult for them to be seen by other countries to be trying to get out of their responsibility, he said. The Falklands is the only British territory that has land which has been mined. Argentina paid for a feasibility study on the removal of mines however it has been agreed that it is the sovereign state's responsibility to lift them, said Cllr John Birmingham, adding that at least in this instance Argentina has agreed that Britain is indeed the sovereign state. "We've had a lot of publicity in recent months and it is not in our interest to have the British Government spend a lot of money on this and lose the support of the British public," said Cllr Summers. The message is put across at every opportunity, said the councillors, however the final decision is out of their hands - Britain has signed the agreement to remove the mines and it has to be their decision. "If other Convention members take a hard line, nothing can be done about it," said Cllr Summers.(PN)