Malvinas Governor says 'high level of trust' is needed before recovering links with Argentina

In an interview with a Buenos Aires radio, Malvinas Islands Governor Nigel Haywood reiterated that “Most of the worldwide actions and raising questions on the Islands matter have started because of Argentina’s verbal attacks. We just defend the islanders’ right of self determination.”

In conversations with Mitre Radio (AM 790), Haywood, who was appointed to the post a year ago, remarked that the islanders’ cause “has nothing to do with UK’s domestic issues. As a matter of fact, we have a democratically elected government in the islands.”

Asked about the presence of Prince Williams in the South Atlantic archipelago, the Governor said “He is just conducting a military training programme as a rescue and search Royal Airforce helicopter pilot since the great challenge the islands’ climate and geography represent.”

When it came to respond to President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s accusations of a British militarization of the South Atlantic Ocean, Haywood said: “There is no change in the military posture; the UK is just updating the equipment so that we can guarantee the Islands safety. It’s like having a computer. You may have initially bought it back in 1983 but then of course you have to update it. But at the end, updated or not you still have a computer.”

Another hot topic discussed was Fernández de Kirchner’s willingness to resume flights linking Buenos Aires and the Islands. Haywood was categorical in his understanding of the matter, “I’ve heard what Argentina’s President said and details were quite unclear. Plus, any proposals for transportation to the Islands are something that must also be discussed with the Islanders.”

Likewise, the Governor indicated that “Islanders are very happy with the flights link we have with LAN Chile”, and remembered, “We used to have charter flights from Argentina but the Argentine government stopped them. We’ll be glad to first discuss the resume of those flights before any new transport links.”

There should be a considerable level of trust rebuilt before we recover certain links we had before war, but right now this is not a great time for rebuilding links with Argentina considering the current tensions mounted. Anyway, it’s our desire to establish great relationships with all Latin American countries.

Asked on the latest measure adopted by the Argentine government not allowing ships wearing the flag of Malvinas to enter national ports, Haywood just expressed “I’m glad that Argentina’s neighbors refused to support policies that could represent an economical blockade to the islands in practical terms.”

To end, Haywood emphasized that everybody is welcome to the islands but was clear about certain attitudes visitors must come up with: “We have normal contact with Argentine citizens. Just to cite an example, in two weeks time we’ll have a marathon here at Port Stanley [Puerto Argentino] and many Argentine runners will come to participate on it. Actually, an Argentine won last year’s race. Argentines are welcome as long as they do not come here to pick fights and make political remarks.”