HL Deb 22 July 1977 vol 386 cc727-9WA
Lord MORRIS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make a Statement on the talks held in Rome with the Government of Argentina on the subject of the Falkland Islands.

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

The talks in Rome were essentially to prepare the ground for a second round of negotiations later in the year. I am arranging for the text of the joint communiqué issued at the end of the talks to be circulated in theOfficial Record.

Following is the joint communiqué referred to:

"ANGLO/ARGENTINE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FALKLAND ISLANDS: TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE ISSUED IN ROME ON 15TH JULY 1977

"In accordance with the announcement made simultaneously by the Argentine and British Governments on 26th April 1977 delegations representing the two Governments met in Rome from 13th-15th July 1977 in order to conduct the first round of negotiations concerning future political relations, including sovereignty, with regard to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Anglo-Argentine economic co-operation with regard to the said territories in particular and the South West Atlantic in general.

"The two delegations were led respectively by Captain D. Gualter Oscar Allara, Under-Secretary for Foreign Relations of the Republic of Argentina and by Mr. H. A. H. Cortazzi, Deputy Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In accordance with the terms of reference for negotiations announced in the Statement of 26th April 1977, the two sides conducted a full exchange of views in order to agree on the procedure for defining the issues to be covered in their negotiations.

"The discussions between the two delegations were conducted in a positive spirit. They led to a better awareness of the position of each side as a basis on which to continue to seek understanding.

"It was agreed that the negotiations now established should be continued at a further high level meeting to be held at the beginning of November. The venue for this second meeting would be decided upon through the diplomatic channel."