MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

PM Brown urged to discuss Falklands issues with Kirchner

A FOREIGN Affairs Select Committee has urged the Prime Minister to pin down the Argentine president about concerns relating to the Falklands when the visit by President Kirchner, which was cancelled earlier this year, is rearranged.

They recommended that the Prime Minister call for an end to Argentina's ban on flights to the Falklands crossing its airspace and that he highlight "the logistical issues" if Argentine families are allowed to fly in to visit the graves of their war dead. Also recommended was that the Prime Minister should press the Argentine president to agree to the establishment of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation for the South West Atlantic and reiterate the Islands' right to develop a hydrocarbon industry. The Committee, which was formed to examine the way the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had carried out its responsibilities with regard to the UK's 14 Overseas Territories, released its report on Sunday. Among the recommendations is that consideration should be given by the FCO Secretary of State as to whether improvements could be made in the ways in which the views of Overseas Territories residents be made known in the UK Parliament. With specific regard to the Falklands, the committee called for the FCO to work with the Falkland Islands government and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the future air bridge allows the Islands to further develop its tourism industry. They also recommend that in its response to their report, the FCO clearly states what, if any, it considers the UK's entitlement would be in respect of potential gas and oil revenue from the Falklands and other Overseas Territories. The issue of de-mining is also touched on by the document. The committee reports: "We conclude that there are a number of issues to be considered, including cost, practicability, safety and environmental impact, before a decision can be taken on whether to carry out demining in the Falkland Islands. "We therefore welcome the government's announcement that it has sought an extension of the deadline to meet the UK's obligations under the Ottawa Convention. We recommend that the government should discuss the results of its recent feasibility study with Falkland Islanders before coming to any decision about landmine clearance." Penguin News