MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine flag request for Darwin cemetery conveyed to London

The British ambassador said the Argentine government request to have a permanent flag at the Darwin cemetery in the Falkland Islands will be conveyed to the Foreign Office, according to the spokesperson for the UK diplomatic representation in Buenos Aires.

However, Ambassador John Hughes also cautioned about the susceptibility of the issue given the Islanders sensitivity regarding the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict when Argentine armed forces occupied the Islands during 74 days. Ambassador Hughes visited on Friday Argentine vice president Julio Cobos at his Congressional office where he was also received by Under Secretary for Foreign Relations Horacio Quiroga. The Argentine press reported on Saturday that the request had been consented and for the first time since the end of the Malvinas war "an Argentine flag will fly permanently at the Darwin cemetery" where more than 270 Argentine combatants are buried. Mr. Quiroga is quoted saying that the acceptance of the permanent flag "is a very important gesture" from Britain. "This (request) is done because of the spiritual need from the soldiers, the veterans and the Argentine people", Quiroga is quoted in the Buenos Aires press. He also mentioned that it's international practice for the flag of origin of the combatants to fly at cemeteries where soldiers are buried. Although the purpose of the meeting was to address bilateral issues, trade, mining and investments, apparently Mr. Quiroga brought up the issue of discussions on Argentina's claim over the Malvinas, "which did not advance", but which he said "will not have implications on other issues". However the UK embassy spokesperson said that the flag issue was born from a first request conveyed by the Argentine officials in the name of Ushuaia Malvinas veterans who wish to build a second monument at the Argentine cemetery in Darwin, to which Ambassador Hughes did not agree. Following on this line Quiroga said it was the wish of the Argentine government that an Argentine flag fly permanently at the Darwin cemetery. It was then that Ambassador Hughes replied he would convey the request but cautioned about the Islanders susceptibility, said the embassy spokesperson. The discussion is related to the controversy over the official opening of a monument at the Argentine cemetery which has been finished for several years and is scheduled to be inaugurated next November. However the logistics of the event that involves transporting more than 800 people (next of kin and Malvinas veterans) to the Falklands, and to Darwin, has still to be worked out since the Islands lack the infrastructure for such a major operation.