§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military matters concerning the Falkland Islands were raised by President Menem of Argentina during his official visit to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [59412]
§ Mr. Tony LloydDuring their talks at 10 Downing Street, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister welcomed President Menem's commitment to reconciliation and his public renunciation of the use of force against the Falklands. President Menem raised our embargo on the export of arms and military equipment to Argentina. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister responded by saying that we would reappraise the embargo in a positive light, mindful of our security considerations. At present the embargo remains in place unchanged.
§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received an official request from the Government of Argentina for talks on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [59410]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Government of Argentina have repeatedly called on us to enter into negotiations on sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. In response we have made it clear that the United Kingdom does not regard sovereignty over the Falklands as negotiable.
§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the United416W Nations regarding initiating an agreement to set a date for the opening of talks between the UK and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. [59413]
§ Mr. Tony LloydNo such discussions have taken place. We do not regard the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands as negotiable. Moreover, the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York told the General Assembly on 22 September
we have no doubt about Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the other British Dependencies in the South Atlantic".
§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of comments by the President of Argentina following his official visit to the UK that he expects Argentina to be in talks with the UK about the future sovereignty of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [59409]
§ Mr. Tony LloydOur position remains as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 29 October 1998,Official Report, column 275. We do not regard the sovereignty of the Falklands as negotiable. There will be no change in the status of the Islands unless that is the wish of the Islanders themselves.
§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held by Her Majesty's Government on the Argentine claim to the Falkland Islands with President Menem of Argentina during his official visit to the UK. [59411]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe did not enter into any discussion on sovereignty over the Falkland Islands during the recent visit of President Menem. The President and his delegation reiterated to us the Argentine view on the Falklands. In response we made it clear that the UK does not regard its sovereignty over the Falklands as negotiable.