Argentine Ambassador to the UK, Alicia Castro, has arrived and wasted no time in upsetting readers of the Daily Telegraph with her attack on Britain in an article headed "Warmongering won't settle this old dispute". In the article she claims that she is 'facing a campaign that “celebrates” a war that took place 30 years ago and warmongering, disrespectful and aggressive language that obstructs dialogue'. I assume she means Britain by this remark which has commemorated, not celebrated, the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, war was never declared by either side. Or perhaps she means the celebrations that took place in Argentina, the violent attack on the British Embassy in Buenos Aires and the disrespectful and aggressive language of President Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner when talking about the Falkland Islanders and the British Government. Judging by the 500 plus on line comments on the article her readers are not impressed by her attempts to 'to rebuild and strengthen bilateral relations.'

Her biased and error ridden account of the history of the Falkland Islands is capped with the denial of self determination for the Falkland Islanders under the United Nations Charter.

The statement that ' We are not willing to take away the Britishness and the way of life of the 3,000 inhabitants of the islands.' sounds rather hollow. In the last 74 days of Argentine rule in the Islands in 1982 the official language became Spanish, residents were required to drive on the opposite side of the road, the laws administering the population were replaced with rules in Spanish. Falkland Islanders were rounded up, imprisoned and in many cases evicted from the Islands. Ambassador Castro blames the Military Junta that was in power at that time for the invasion and its effects but the Junta were the Government at that time and the crowds in front of the Casa Rosada seemed very happy with their actions.

Sadly any chance of negotiations to bring about peaceful relations between the peoples of the Falkland Islands and Argentina are pushed further into the background by this aggressive attack on the Falkland Islanders and the Great Britain which closely follows the party line of the present Argentine President.

Easter Monday and its raining! Nine days into the month and still no confirmation that all the material for the Newsletter is at the printers. It seems most unlikely that it will be out in time to pick up a few more guests for the trip to Kew on 25th.

Steve Hawkshaw has emailed to say that the British Forces weekend in SOUTHPORT will run on 30th June/1st July at Princes Park from 11:00 to 17:30 with free entry. Participants are as follows:

Saturday, 30th, Southport Veterans Day Carnival 13:00 Lead by the Royton ATC Band and RAF Woodvale University Squadron

Sunday 1st July Southport Falkland 30th Anniversary and BAFD Parade
10:30 Lead by the Welsh Guards Band (not confirmed)
RBL Riders Branch to take part.

Bar and Entertainment in the Town Hall Gardens
Royal Signals Motorbike Display on the park

In addition there will be a Falklands Display in Southport Town Hall From June 25th.

Press coverage is declining now that the anniversary of the invasion is over but I expect coverage will continue and then pick up again in June.