FFalklandalkland IIslandsslands NNewsletterewsletter PPublishedublished bbyy TThehe FFalklandalkland IIslandsslands AAssociationssociation wwww.ww.fi aassociation.comssociation.com NNoo 111111 OctoberOctober 22016016 ppeopleeople eeventsvents ppoliticsolitics ssportport nnewsews1 Falkland Islands Association editorial Newsletter by FIA Chairman Alan Huckle Published by: The Falkland Islands Association, Falkland House, London SW1H OBH he vote on June 23 in favour of a (www.fi association.com) – but they are TBritish exit (Brexit) from the European not shared by the Parliamentary Labour Tel 020 3764 0824 Union caught many by surprise. It Party. We should be alert to any shift in honseci [email protected] brought down David Cameron as Prime policy arising out of the leadership contest ISSN 0262-9399 Minister and has led the UK into a period and the Labour Party conference (25-28 of uncertainty as the new Conservative September). It would be a great shame if Edited by: Government under Theresa May seeks the all-party consensus on policy on the Sharon Jaf ray to hammer out its negotiating strategy Falkland Islands that has existed since the Stanley for Brexit. It could be a long drawn out 1982 confl ict begins to weaken. Falkland Islands process. The UK’s declaration under There is some good news from Argentina Tel 00 500 52739 Article 50 of the EU Treaty is unlikely to on the Falklands. Sir Alan Duncan visited [email protected] be lodged until well into 2017. The actual Buenos Aires on 12 - 13 September to negotiation on withdrawal will not be easy attend a Business and Investment Forum Editorial Committee and the readjustment to the UK’s new where he met senior Argentine Government Ms Cindy Buxton (Chair) circumstances will take time. It will be a Ministers. The Joint Communique included Mr David Tatham CMG crucial period in Britain’s history. a section on South Atlantic issues which Mr David Ainslie There are some real risks for the UK stated: Mrs Merle Christie Overseas Territories (OTs), not least in “In a positive spirit, both sides agreed to Mr Saul Pitaluga having their interests overlooked in the set up a dialogue to improve co-operation pace and complexity of the withdrawal on South Atlantic issues of mutual interest... Website negotiations. But Ministers have given In this context, it was agreed to take www.i association.com a reassurance that this will not be the the appropriate measures to remove all case – and the UK-OT Joint Ministerial obstacles limiting the economic growth and Release of copyright Council later this year will be an sustainable development of the Falkland opportunity for OT Governments to set Islands, including in trade, fi shing, shipping The Editorial Committee out the implications for each Territory and hydrocarbons... Both sides agreed releases all copyrights in clear terms. The Falkland Islands that further air links between the Falkland on the content of Government (FIG) is already working up Islands and third countries would be the Falkland Islands a detailed paper on this. There may be established. In this context, they agreed the Newsletter except some challenges. The EU is a signifi cant establishment of two additional stops per on pictures, cartoons export market for Falklands’ commodities; month in mainland Argentina, one in each and maps. Other so the deal struck on continued access to direction... Both delegations expressed publications are invited the EU single market will be important. their full support for a DNA identifi cation to quote freely. But the Falkland islanders have always process in respect of unknown Argentine been resourceful. Brexit will undoubtedly soldiers buried in the Darwin cemetery... Howevever, we ask that create opportunities for new markets and Both sides agreed to set a date for a fuller quotations are made in new partners. meeting as soon as possible.” Full text on context and the Falkand The UK Government remains fi rm in its www.fi association.com. Islands Newsletter support for the OTs, particularly Gibraltar The UK Government welcomed this acknowledged as the and the Falkland Islands. David Cameron as “the fi rst positive statement on South source. was a true champion and friend of the Atlantic issues since 1999” but warned that OTs; Theresa May is likely to be no less nothing in it would affect sovereignty. The For further information whole-hearted in her own support and the Falkland Islands Government, which had turn to the inside back same can be said of Sir Alan Duncan, the been fully consulted throughout, echoed page or alternatively new Foreign Offi ce Minister with day-to- this but stressed that they would be present contact the Editor day responsibility for issues affecting the at any future meeting and that sovereignty Sharon Jaf ray (contact Falklands. There has been no inkling of would not be discussed. details above). any doctrinal shift or any change in UK This is a good fi rst step but it will be parliamentary cohesion on the principle interesting to see whether President Macri of self-determination for the OTs. There can carry full support within Argentina, AAdvertising:dvertising: have been suggestions that once the UK and crucially within Congress, for lifting DDetailsetails insideinside backback leaves the EU, collective EU support for the Kirchner Administration’s restrictive ccoverover the British position may begin to weaken. legislation against the Falklands and Spain has already made noises about whether the Argentines will attempt to Printed by: Gibraltar. But the EU will still want the UK demand a linkage with discussions on Platinum Press Ltd as a close partner; so It seems unlikely sovereignty transfer. Tel 0844 880 4722 that EU member states will radically alter ***** their position on this. On FIA matters, I am pleased to www.PlatinumPressLimited.co.uk By the time this edition of the Newsletter welcome Karen Clapp as our new issues, the results of the Labour Party’s Honorary Membership Secretary (see leadership contest will be known. page 30 for her CV) and am grateful to Jeremy Corbyn’s views on the Falkland Tamsin Cunningham for taking over the Islands are distinctly fl aky – see the role of website administrator. Both are a January news articles on our website tremendous help. 2 News Second airlink key priority SECOND commercial air link refl ect on progress to deliver the A with South America will be a key Islands Plan. priority and the Falklands will work Much had been achieved, he said but with partners and the UK Government much remained to be done: “Whether to secure it, stated His Excellency or not we achieve oil production in the the Governor Colin Roberts in his period ahead, the next few years are address to the Budget Meeting of the a crucial opportunity to strengthen Legislative Assembly in June. the economic bases and foster the He added that developments in development of strong Falkland Argentina provided grounds, “to hope Islands businesses linked to the that we may see new openings in our regional and global economy. This is links with South America.” necessary to ensure the long term He reassured though that although prosperity and self-suffi ciency of this the UK Government was working hard country.” to build a productive relationship with He expanded: “It is time for the the administration of President Macri, H E the Governor Colin Roberts Government and private sector the Prime Minister, “has made clear to improve the relations with the to come together and renew our that this will not be at the cost of the inhabitants of the Islands and we are efforts to improve our connectivity, Falkland Islands and has reaffi rmed exploring available options.” promote investment and develop the Government’s unwavering The economy our workforce. There are important commitment to the right of the people The Governor described the opportunities. Regional markets are of the Falkland Islands to determine Falkland Islands economy as having, increasingly open to partnerships their own political and economic “performed well in recent years, with the Falklands; there are many future. The fi rm support of the UK driven largely by the benefi ts of oil opportunities for growth in the Tourism Government continues to provide the exploration and previous strong years Development Strategy; and the UK security and reassurance to allow in the fi sheries.” Government can offer much in the Government, businesses and families But he cautioned: “With the way of support. A good example of this to plan for the long term.” completion of the exploration round is the Defence Secretary’s initiative to The Argentine Foreign Minister we are already seeing a slowing of promote new business opportunities Susana Malcorra had already the economy, which, together with the between the Ministry of Defence and acknowledged the Governor’s failure of the 2016 Illex fi shery, will Falklands’ businesses.” comments but insisted links have to reduce Government revenues.” He spoke of the key areas of activity be through bilateral relations with UK.” Island Plan involving, oil, fi shing agriculture and However she did note that she Against this background of highs tourism and future developments to believed there was, “an opportunity and lows he said it was timely to public services. Evolution path for political change volution not revolution will be and emphasising Islanders political Ethe Falklands path for political choices. He said: “Falkland Islanders change MLA Gavin Short told the are comfortable with the constitutional Decolonisation Committee of 24 relationship with