Argentina and the United Kingdom held in London on Monday the first of a two-day round of talks in the framework of the September joint communiqué with the purpose of improving bilateral relations and cooperation, and advancing in one of the few contentious issues, the Falkland Islands' dispute.
Two Falklands lawmakers, MLA Mike Summers and MLA Phyl Rendell, will represent the Islands government as part of the British delegation at meetings with Argentina in London next Monday and Tuesday. According to a release from the Islands' government the principal item to be addressed is a second flight from South America to the Falklands that was agreed in a September Joint Statement between the UK and Argentina.
Argentina would be interested in negotiating a bilateral free-trade agreement with the U.K. as it prepares to leave the European Union, potentially turning around harsh relations between the two countries.
An update on the progress of the Falkland Islands’ economy has been given to the Falkland Islands Association at their annual general meeting in London. Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Mike Summers indicated that all aspect of the Islands development were doing well.
Two Argentine forensic experts will be part of the group under the Red Cross that will collect DNA samples from the remains of the Argentine unidentified combatants buried at the Falkland Islands' Darwin cemetery with the purpose of fulfilling the task of identifying the graves which read Argentine solider, only known unto God.
Students from Chile are seeking work in both the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and the private sector, including in Camp. Falklands' lawmaker MLA Barry Elsby said the students will have a good level of English when they arrive and will not need any formal English tuition.
Diplomats from the Malvinas Desk of the Argentine Foreign ministry have travelled to Geneva for crucial meetings later this week with their British, Falklands counterparts and Red Cross members to reach a definitive agreement on the DNA tests for the identification of the remains of Argentine combatants buried in the Darwin cemetery, following the 1982 conflict, reports Clarin.
The Argentine registered vessel “La Sanmartiniana” is reported to have reached Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz province on Sunday, following a full week's sailing from Stanley, where it had left on Sunday 27 November. Militants and local authorities lined up at the port to celebrate her arrival.
The Patagonia territories of Chile and Argentina, Aysen region and Santa Cruz province are under yellow alert since Saturday evening given the growing seismic activity of the Hudson volcano. The alert is specifically referred to the towns of Los Antiguos and Perino Moreno, Argentina and the Chilean communes of Aysen, General Carrera, Rio Ibañez and Chile Chico in the Aysen Region.
Despite a dismal last season for Illex fishing in the Falkland Islands, with very low catches, interest in licenses for the coming season is holding up and the process is likely to be oversubscribed, confirmed MLA Phyl Rendell last week.