MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina plans to boost its Antarctic operations

Argentina is expected to announce Monday a boost in resources and staff to its presence in Antarctica, according to reports in the Buenos Aires press. The event coincides with the 105th anniversary of Argentina's first landing in Antarctica and which in the local calendar is identified at the Argentina Antarctica Day.

The celebration was really on Sunday but the main ceremony and announcements will take place Monday and among the initiatives are the rebuilding of the Jubany base plus the refurbishing of all the communications system in the Argentina bases and stations. Funds will also be available for the contracting of more scientists. To the ceremony which will take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been invited the Minister of Defence Nilda Garré and the first Argentine to reach the South Pole by land, in 1965, retired General Jorge Leal. Communications are to be improved with new antennas, satellite phones, wide band and free lines for the personnel in the different bases and stations, according to an official release. The Argentine flag was first flown in Antarctica in the South Orkney Islands February 22 of 1904. Argentina also claims that seal hunters in vessels flagged with the colours of the newly born country had long sailed and visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica as far back as 1817.