A fifth UK company plans to drill for oil off the Falkland Islands after it raises £70m in a London stock market listing, reports the Financial Times. Argos Resources, which holds licences next to the landmark 250m-barrel Falklands’ oil discovery made by peer Rockhopper Exploration in May, hopes to achieve a £200m value on AIM.
The Argentine consul in Punta Arenas downplayed the alleged repercussions of the recent trip of eight Chilean students to the Falkland Islands allegedly in the framework of a “written understanding” between the extreme south Chilean city council and Falklands authorities.
Mail on Sunday reports Prince William is battling to go to the Falkland Islands next year as an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot. William, 28, finishes his training in the autumn and is due to travel to the Falklands for eight weeks next summer.
The recent Chilean students’ visit to the Falkland Islands for three weeks to improve their English and become acquainted with the Islands’ culture was questioned by Argentine diplomatic officials who contacted Punta Arenas mayor Vladimiro Mimica, reports the Sunday edition of La Prensa Austral.
Two Boeing 767-300s have been confirmed as the aircraft to be used for the South Atlantic Airbridge linking Brize Norton in the UK with the Falkland Islands while the Mount Pleasant runway is being resurfaced later this year.
Argentina’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said that China expressed “strong support” for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands and other South Atlantic islands, but was disappointed by the bias coverage of the Buenos Aires press.
“We would like nothing better than to have a peaceful coexistence with Argentina”, said Falkland Islands Member of the Legislative Assembly Gavin Short addressing the UN Decolonization Committee.
The people of the Falkland Islands do not want to become part of Argentina and by pursuing its sovereignty claim “Argentina is seeking to colonise the people of the Falkland Islands”, said Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Member Emma Edwards before the UN Decolonization Committee.
Argentina’s Lower House gave unanimous preliminary approval to a bill that seeks to impose sanctions on corporations operating in Argentina that may be looking to work in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands with out the approval of Argentine authorities. The bill must now be ratified by the Senate.
Argentina’s Lower House issued on Tuesday a majority opinion, without dissent, on the bill that contemplates sanctions for companies that operate in Argentina and that wish to participate or are involved in oil activities in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands area under British administration.