TNAG-0596-FCO40-743-Policy-of-HM-Government-towards-remaining-Dependent-Territor-1977 — Page 6

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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

10.5.

In the case of the Falkland Islands, to

which the Hon Member has referred, the House will re-

call that the Islanders accepted earlier in the

year, that we should try to set up negotiations

with the Argentines that would cover both economic

cooperation and future political relations, including

sovereignty. As the terms of reference state, the

major objective of the negotiations will be to

achieve a stable, prosperous and politically durable

future for the Islands. We held the first round of

negotiations with Argentina in Rome from 13 to 15

july, in accordance with the terms of reference

given to the House by my Rt Hon Friend on 26 April.

This round was devoted to an examination of each

side's views about the nature of the dispute and

the best method of making progress in future meetings.

We left the Argentines in no doubt at the Rome

talks that any eventual settlement would have to be

fully acceptable to the Falkland Islanders themselves

and to Parliament. As my Rt Hon Friend made clear

to the House on the 1st of March, there will be

full consultation with the Islanders during the

course of the negotiations with Argentina.

Lovve

The

Island Councillors approved that formal negotiations

with the Argentines would be concerned with the twin

themes of political relations and economic cooperation

Thay accepted that sovereignty would have to be

discussed in this context. When my hon Friend

the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs met the Islanders earlier this year, he

made it clear, and they accepted, that if there are

to be any negotiations with Argentina about

economic cooperation we must be prepared at the

/same