MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Argentina/UK relation must go beyond the Falklands/Malvinas conflict”

British ambassador Shan Morgan

The Argentina/UK relation must go beyond the Falklands/Malvinas conflict, said British ambassador Shan Morgan during a recent visit to Salta, one of Argentina’s most northern provinces famous for its landscape and agro-industry potential. She also praised Argentine labour and talent and was hopeful a trade agreement could soon be reached with the European Union.

Interviewed by the local newspaper El Tribuno Ms. Morgan said that the two countries “have more issues in common than the Falklands/Malvinas conflict: we have historic links that clearly exceed the difference over the Islands. Argentine railways were built by the British and so many other infrastructures. My priority is to maximize coincidences beyond our differences”.

When asked about the recurrent Argentine calls for sovereignty negotiations, the British ambassador admitted it is “a very important issue for Argentines, but the position of my government is well known and has not changed. I understand we have an important difference, but we also have other forms of cooperation”.

Further on Ms Morgan said she was hopeful a trade agreement could be reached between the European Union and Mercosur, “so as to strengthen trade links between both blocks”.

The British ambassador said that claims about Argentine protectionist practices were being handed by the EU Commercial Attaché and denied point blank that any British corporation has complained about lack of legal security in Argentina.

“Not at all, on the contrary the British corporations always talk about the quality of Argentine human resources. Labour capacity in Argentina and talent are excellent and that is what British companies are after. Over a hundred British companies are established in Argentina and 36 of them belong to the top ranking”, said Ms Morgan who recalled the long and significant trade relation between Britain and Argentina.

Finally the British ambassador said it was her second visit to Salta but was again stunned by the beauty of the landscape and regretted that “more British tourists don’t visit the country”. Last year an estimated 60.000 British tourists travelled to Argentina. “More flights to Bariloche and Iguazú will help but what are needed is publicity and more infrastructure”.