MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK/Argentina talks to bury remains of pilot in Falklands

Argentina and the United Kingdom are involved in negotiations for a humanitarian flight to the Falkland Islands to carry the remains of an Argentine pilot for his burial at the cemetery in Darwin, according to Monday reports in the Buenos Aires press.

The remains belong to Air Force First Lieutenant Jorge Casco and were confirmed following DNA samples with close relatives, at Argentina's National Genetic Bank from the Durand Hospital in Buenos Aires. The Buenos Aires press reports that following the identification of the remains, Casco relatives and the Malvinas Committee of Next of Kin began the formalities to have his remains buried at the Argentine cemetery in Darwin in the Falklands. The Argentine press also speculates it will be the first sensitive task for the new British ambassador Shan Morgan, who only a week ago is officially on the post. Apparently Argentine diplomats took note of Ms Morgan open letter to the Argentine public opinion where she underscored that "the UK shares Argentina's deep commitment to the protection of human rights". Transporting the remains is considered a special case since it's not a civilian but an airman entitled to military ceremonial. One of the options would be for an RAF aircraft to fly the remains under instructions of the International Red Cross. The remains were originally found in a beach and kept at the Stanley Police Station. They were returned to Argentina under special custody on the Lan Chile July 19 MPA-Punta Arenas flight. The urn delivered read: "Bone remains (four bones) of human origin discovered in the Falkland Islands in 1999". According to Argentine Air Force records Casco was flying with a wing of four A-4C Skyhawk with the intention of attacking HMS Coventry, but his aircraft and that of Lieutenant Jorge Farias crashed in Jason island because of an "operational accident" (bad weather). The accident occurred May 9, 1982.