FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: 23 FEBRUARY 2004

(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)

 

 

FURTHER TO CLLR. EDWARDS’ STATEMENT ON FRIDAY

 

The proposals as they stand should not be taken forward.  They fall short of the criteria we need to resolve this disagreement.   Nevertheless we understand the United Kingdom Government will remain engaged with the Argentine Government on air links as on other issues.

 

 

 

 

 

Pirate link to sale of seized toothfish

 

By Peter Collins and Torrance Mendez

 

 

 

PATAGONIAN toothfish confiscated by Australian authorities is believed to have been sold to processors used by pirate operations.

 

About 95 tonnes of the toothfish removed from the former Uruguayan-flagged Viarsa 1 after the longest chase in Australian maritime history in August was sold for an estimated $1 million.

 

Australian Fisheries Management Authority confirmed the buyer was Mauritius-based processor Thalassa Exports, a company often used by vessels suspected of toothfish piracy.

 

The Viarsa 1 is impounded by Australian authorities while its captain and officers face charges relating to the catch.

 

Viarsa 1 had previously used Thalassa as a processor but there was no proof that it had landed stolen fish on those occasions.

 

Senator Ian Macdonald held talks last month in Mauritius about the problem of countries which assisted the trans-shipment of pirate toothfish.

 

"It has long been the belief of many of the world's legal operators that rogue pirates are using ports like Port Louis (in Mauritius) to launch raids on valuable stocks of Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean," Senator Macdonald said.

 

"The commitment from Mauri tius is to stop illegal operators by not providing them with a base to offload their illegal cargoes."

 

AFMA said there had been no evidence to implicate Thalassa in illegality. AFMA had to treat Thalassa as a legitimate operator licensed in Mauritius.

 

The Uruguayan Government has confirmed reports that vessels including the Viarsa 1 have had their flags removed.

 

And Uruguay's top fisheries official has been denounced as a loose cannon in his country for challenging Australia's sovereignty of McDonald and Heard islands in the Southern Ocean where three boats have been apprehended with big hauls of toothfish.

 

Capt. Yamandu Flangini's stance effectively meant that fishermen caught plundering toothfish 4200km south of Perth were not pirates.

 

But Uruguay's Ambassador to Australia confirmed yesterday that Capt. Flangini was not representing the official view of the Uruguayan Government.

 

Ambassador Mo Amaro said that Mr Flangini's comments were subject of a question time debate in the Uruguayan Parliament on Wednesday.

 

"What he (Flangini) says belongs to himself personally and not because he has instructions from government," Mr Amaro said. "It's a pity Capt. Flangini talks on this matter."

 

Mr Amaro said Uruguay did not dispute Australian sovereignty, and was hoping to co-operate with Australia in anti-piracy measures.

 

The ambassador also confirmed that action was being taken against the Viarsa 1.

 

Thirty-five crew of the Uruguayan-flagged Maya V had bail terms lightened yesterday when they were required to deposit $2000 instead of $5000.

 

© 2004 West Australian Newspapers Limited

 

 

“A” Press: 21 February 2004

 

There are important articles today in Clarin, La Nacion and the Buenos Aires Herald reporting the sailing yesterday of the ship (BBC Japan) carrying the monument to be constructed at Darwin in memory of the Argentine dead from the port of Campana on the river Parana. It should reach the Falklands in 4 or 5 days.

 

There was a major ceremony to mark the event with Vice-President Scioli, Defence Minister Jose Pampuro, the Heads of all three Argentine Armed Forces, relatives of the fallen, veterans, and an honour guard. Scioli made a very aggressive speech calling on Britain to start negotiating over Falklands sovereignty, and saying that Argentina would never give up its claim. Various others gave emotional or nationalistic quotes to the press, and the scene was described by La Nacion as dramatic, with tears and embraces.

 

But there were even more aggressive reports about this in the late news yesterday on Clarin and La Nacion. Amongst other comments, these made the point that the weather might delay construction until after April 2^nd (when the Argentines obviously wanted to hold the inauguration). In La Nacion’s article then Defence Minister Jose Pampuro was quoted as saying that “the advances that have occurred between the two governments in the re-establishment of four flights to the Islands from Argentine territory demonstrate the goodwill of the governments of the UK and Argentina over this matter”. He said this in the context of calls for sovereignty negotiation as if to suggest that Britain was becoming more amenable to these.

 

More importantly, Pampuro’s remarks about flights are perhaps confirmation of a major report yesterday in the financial paper Ambito Financiero that Britain has agreed to flights by an Argentine airline to the Falklands. This report says that the main features of the agreement are: (1) that there will be four Argentine flights per month rising to not less than six (even though Argentina originally asked for 20) (2) They will begin not later than the inauguration of the monument at Darwin. (3) Air traffic with Chile will be authorised until the end of the year, at which time the two countries will reconsider the situation.

 

There is also a short report today that President Kirchner will lead the ceremonies in Rio Gallegos on April 2^nd to celebrate the Argentine attack in 1982. There is another rather silly one about the world map that the late Di Tella had on the wall of his office had been taken down when the new government took office – and so Bill Rammell wouldn’t have seen it.

 

Comment:

 

I only got back to Buenos Aires last Thursday (19^th) and so wasn’t here when Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell was. But I can’t help but think that a Minister wouldn’t have come here unless there was some agreement to make, or very close to being made. Defence Minister Pampuro’s very important remarks were omitted from La Nacion’s article this morning – and not mentioned by Clarin. So perhaps these papers have been tipped off not to let the cat out of the bag.

 

I think the agreement (or proposed agreement, if that is all it is) would be a disaster. Although it would be reconsidered at the end of the year, I doubt if it would be practical to reverse it then after an Argentine airline had been flying to the Falklands for months. More importantly, it would mean that Argentina would no longer need the LanChile flights to Punta Arenas that are now protected by the 1999 agreement. It is well known that Argentina wants to replace these with an Argentine service. These LanChile would be easy to stop without formally breaking the 1999 agreement. That agreement is with Argentina, but the flights are Chilean. So Argentina could easily pressure the Chilean government or LanChile to give them up, and then ensure that no Chilean airline replaced them. But Argentina can’t do that unless it already has its own flights, as if it did its own access to the Falklands (and the Monument) would be cut off. A major reason for the 1999 agreement was to admit Argentines then, but make them dependent on the same flights that the Islanders themselves wanted. This is now under threat, at the same time that the Monument that was also provided for in the 1999 agreement is at last coming into existence. That will still be there even if Argentina succeeds in the eliminating the flights to Chile.

 

The flights issue and the construction of the monument are going to lead to an enormous amount of Argentine pressure over the next few months. The Kirchner government is very hardline on this subject and is probably using it to divert attention from Argentina’s domestic problems too. These are all too obvious still. Buenos Aires has been very badly hit by pickets recently. They caused traffic chaos on Thursday blocking roads all over the city. The foreign debt issue and crime are causing a lot of difficulty as well. A victory over the Falklands would be just what the doctor ordered.

 

(100X Translation Service)

 

 

CRUISE SHIP MUSICIANS GIVE CATHEDRAL CONCERT

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

When the Hansiatic made an emergency call into Stanley for bunkers her passengers were treated to a concert in Christ Church Cathedral.  A request for the Cathedral as venue came to Church Warden, Keith Biles at 0800 for a 1200 concert.  The ship was late and the concert didn’t take place until 1400 but it was well attended by crew and passengers from Hansiatic.

 

Baritone, Buckford Puttakkamer, accompanied by Andras Vernsey on organ, entertained the 100 strong audience with a variety of classical pieces by Gluck, Handel, Litszt, Gounod and Schubert.

 

Though impromptu, the concert was very well received by the audience.  And, it is hoped that similar concerts can be organised next season so that local residents can have the opportunity to listen to visiting musicians.

 

Falkland Islands Gun Club – Shotgun

Results 22^nd February 2004.

A tremendous turnout for the latest round in the FI Gun Club Clay Pigeon League this week  The Local version of English Sporting was conducted this week with shooters facing a variety of different birds from many areas of the range.  The MPA and hillside PTI’s joined in with some very promising shooters amongst them.  The PTI Team were forced to retire after 3 rounds due to time constraints but Gary Smith and Michael Grieveson showed themselves able to hold their own with percentages of 50 and above.  The end result saw Steve Dent come out on top by the narrowest of margins to jon Clarke.  Shoots are planned for the middle of this week with the next Sunday shoot planned for 14^th March, DTL 25 Birds.  Don’t forget we practice most Sundays at 1330 hrs on the Phillips Point Range and all are welcome contact Steve Dent for further details on 22021, 27285.

 

This week’s Score Sheet;

Name	Hits	Percentage	Score
Steve Dent	23	77%	23
Jon Clarke	15	50%	15
Gary Smith	12	67%	12
Michael Grieveson	9	50%	9
Martin Pearce	8	44%	8
Jules Penny	8	44%	8
Dean Avon	8	44%	8
Sam Greave	7	39%	7
Rob McMillan	6	33%	6
Mark Maguire	2	11%	2
Scott Simon	2	11%	2

 

The current league table stands as follows with four shoots remaining.  The table is still very much open as all shooters have to shave off 3 of their worst scores before the final result will be decided.

 

Name	Total
Steve Dent	92
Henry McLeod	64
Jon Clarke	62
Mark Pryor	48
Graham Didlick	37
Gary Smith	12
Ian McLeod