No. 107 September 2014 IINSIDENSIDE FFalklandsalklands nnewsews cconservationonservation ttourismourism ppeopleeople ppoliticsolitics ssportport eeventsvents Marathon runner Teslyn Barkman celebrates at the fi nish Falkland Islands editorial Association Newsletter by FIA Chair Alan Huckle Published by: The Falkland Islands Association, in the grounds of the former Argentine Falkland House, Naval Mechanical School, which was London infamous as a torture and murder SW1H OBH centre during the years of the military junta and its ‘dirty war’. It is almost as if Tel 0203 764 0824 President Kirchner was seeking to justify ISSN 0262-9399 the Argentine invasion, which most in Argentina accept as a tragic error even Edited by: if they support the Argentine claim to Sharon Jaf ray sovereignty. Stanley Internationally, Argentina continues Falkland Islands uch was riding in Argentina on to lobby for support of its sovereignty Tel 00 500 52739 Man Argentine victory in the World claim but with little real effect. The [email protected] Cup fi nal – not just the prospect of an UN Decolonisation Committee (C24) Argentine soccer triumph but also, for the rolled over its standard declaration on Editorial Committee Argentine leadership, the hope of further the Falklands in June. It is a measure Ms Cindy Buxton (Chair) sustained distraction from Argentina’s of the C24’s anachronistic attitude Mr David Tatham CMG continuing socio-economic woes. towards the UK’s modern relationship Mr David Ainslie Germany’s win put paid to that – and with its Overseas Territories that it will Mrs M Christie Argentina now has to face up to some undoubtedly ignore once again the Mr Saul Pitaluga stark choices in the run-up to the October Falkland Islands Government invitation 2015 Presidential elections. to them to visit the Islands to see for Advertising: The prospects look bleak. For the fi rst themselves (something that at least Full page £250 time since 2002, Argentina’s economy is an Opposition Presidential hopeful in Half page £125 offi cially in recession. After two years of Argentina, Julio Cobos, was prepared to Quarter page £65 stagnation, the key indicators are on a do on a private basis in end June/early Eighth page £35 downward trend; consumption, industrial July). Short insert £3 per line output, construction sector indices, trade It is not clear what effect various (imports and exports) are all falling. Yet Argentine initiatives, such as the WEBSITE infl ation remains in double digit fi gures appointment of Daniel Filmus as even on the basis of (often fl awed) ‘Malvinas Secretary’, have had apart from www.i association.com Government statistics. the sidelining of the ‘Malvinas’ department There is no relief on the Government’s within the Argentine bureaucracy. The Release of copyright debt situation. In mid-June, the US launch in April of ‘Pampa Azul’, a ten Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s year scientifi c plan to carry out marine The Editorial Committee ruling that Argentina must pay US$1.3bn research in the so-called ‘Argentine releases all copyrights to hedge fund creditors that refused to sea’ may, however, result in provocative on the content of accept debt restructuring offers of partial incursions in Falklands and SGSSI waters the Falkland Islands payment in 2005 and 2010 following under the guise of science. Thankfully, Newsletter except on Argentina’s default on its US$80bn debt in Argentine efforts to lobby the Vatican pictures, cartoons and 2001/2. Argentina remains in discussion following the election of Pope Francis maps. Other publications with the US Supreme Court moderator in March have fallen on deaf ears; the are invited to quote but, whilst this brinkmanship continues, elevation of an Argentine citizen as freely. investor confi dence is rock bottom Pope is not going to alter the Holy See’s with little possibility of the Argentine traditional position on such issues. Howevever, we ask that Government being able to borrow its Despite all this, it is reassuring to quotations are made in way out of its economic problems. So, see the UK Government’s continued context and the Falkand Argentina faces continued stagfl ation and strong support for the Falklands (see Islands Newsletter the prospect of deeper social unrest. Mr Swire’s speech on page 4) and the acknowledged as the All of this means that President thriving open democracy that is constantly source. Kirchner has to keep the Falklands on demonstrated within the Islands. It is her public agenda. In doing so, she wonderful to see the continued madness For further information can get into some strange contortions of the mid-winter swim, and delightful turn to the inside back of logic in trying to justify the Russian to recall the real beauty of the Islands page or alternatively annexation of Crimea and can resort to captured in the photographs in the ‘We contact the Editor Sharon incomprehensible untruths when she are Falklands’ exhibition in the Mall (see Jaf ray (contact details claimed on 2 April – the anniversary of page 13). above). the Argentine invasion of the Falklands On the FIA front, we now have a new – that the Falkland Islands were home to website; please help us to invigorate it ‘NATO’s largest military nuclear base’ in with suggestions and contributions. We PRINTED BY: ‘one of the most militarised territories in also encourage you to apply to attend the Platinum Press (UK) Ltd the world’. It’s not surprising that she was service to remember those who fought Tel 0844 880 4722 roundly mocked for this on Twitter and in the WW1 battles of Coronel and the www.PlatinumPressLimited.co.uk had to block her account against further Falklands, which will be held in St. Martin- embarrassment. Even more disgraceful, in-the-Fields on Monday, 8 December – in my view, was her attendance on 10 and we have a separate date for our AGM June at the opening of a ‘Museo Malvinas’ (see insert). 2 Falklands’ new Governor Left: His Excellency the Governor Mr Colin Roberts takes the oath of allegiance in the Court and Council Chambers. Right: Ready for the 17 gun salute a the welcome parade Governor Roberts takes up post is Excellency the Governor Mr Governor Roberts said he was go from strength to strength, “despite HColin Roberts arrived in the proud, “to have the chance to live and Argentine efforts to disrupt activity Islands on April 28 and the following work with you and will do my utmost and threaten legal action against day took the oath of allegiance before to promote your security, stability and participants.” attending a parade on Victory green prosperity.” These efforts had proved ineffective with a welcoming 17 gun salute. The purpose of the Governor today, and the unwavering support of the Addressing invited guests and was to ensure the infrastructure government of the UK would continue Government offi cials, he paid tribute and the context in which the elected to ensure that legitimate economic to the state of the Falklands economy representatives can make their activity in Falklands waters continued and praised the community and the decisions for the territory and in unhindered, he said. direct engagement with regional which the government of the Falkland “Planning is signifi cantly advanced and national communities with Islands can implement those for a new multi-operator exploratory regard to diplomacy, trade, tourism, decisions,” he said when talking drilling programme which is expected environmental science and sport. to the media later that week. He to commence in the fi rst half of He said that in preparing for his expanded on the comment saying 2015. This will bring a fresh surge appointment, he had spoken to a this ranged from security, “making of economic activity in the Falklands great many people who had visited sure these Islands are secure in and new opportunities for the local the Islands who were impressed by defence terms, to making sure that business community. A number of what they had found here. “What the system of justice and the rule of exciting new targets will be tested they see is a confi dent community, law operates effectively and smoothly in both the North and South basins confi dent of its history and therefore so that the things that they want to do around the Islands,” said Mr Roberts. sure of its identity, a people who can be achieved.” Meanwhile other licensees know where they want to be, who it Hydrocarbons continued to seek new partners to wants to be and who expressed that In his address to the nation at carry out additional exploration and wish in the clearest possible terms in the opening of the budget debate appraisal work elsewhere in licensed a referendum last year, and they see in Legislative Assembly on June acreage, and success may lead to an economy preparing to take on a 4, Governor Roberts said that the extended exploratory drilling taking major new industry.” hydrocarbon industry continued to place in the short term, he noted. Governor Roberts spoke of the spe- cial bond between 1982 veterans, their families and the people of the Falklands. Speaking to veterans, he said that two things had come across very clearly: “The deep appreciation for the sincere and generous welcome they receive here and including, and this does surprise quite a lot of them, those who were not yet born in 1982. The second thing is the sense of re- ward and satisfaction that they feel when they see the success you have made of this country.” 3 Falklands Government Lincoln’s Inn reception ou do not need me to tell you Ywhat an extraordinary place it is, with an incredibly precious environmental heritage that rightly deserves every kind of reasonable protection,” said Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Hugo Swire as he addressed a large gathering at the Falklands Islands Government Reception at Lincoln’s Inn on June 10.