Falklands : Falklands Pay Tribute to Robin Cook
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 06.08.2005 (Article Archived on 20.08.2005)
Falklanders reacted with alarm when they heard the news that Former Secretary of State, Robin Cook had collapsed in Scotland and with shock when they found out that he died on Saturday. Perhaps those from the Falklands who knew him best were Councillors.
FALKLANDS PAY TRIBUTE TO ROBIN COOK
By J. Brock (FINN)
Falklanders reacted with alarm when they heard the news that Former Secretary of State, Robin Cook had collapsed in Scotland and with shock when they found out that he had died on Saturday. Perhaps those from the Falklands who knew him best were Councillors. I rang Cllr. Mike Summers, who contributed the following:
Thanks for calling and advising of the death of Robin Cook. I was shocked to hear of his untimely death. He will be remembered in the Falklands not only for the fact that he was the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the time of the 1999 Agreement, but also as the Minister responsible for the commissioning and production of the thoughtful and far reaching White Paper on the Overseas Territories earlier that same year. It is in respect of the latter work that he will leave a lasting legacy in the Falklands and the other Overseas Territories.
He was responsible as Secretary of State for the UK's ethical foreign policy, and it was from that stance that he approached the Overseas Territories. He believed in the concept of internal self government to the maximum extent possible, and did much to modernise the relationship between the UK and the OT's.
We met on a number of occasions; he was always keen to listen as well as to offer his advice. He believed that we should make our own decisions, and stressed throughout the discussions leading up to July 1999 that whilst he thought we should try to reach some kind of agreement with the Argentines, we were under no pressure to do so and should not do so on terms with which we were not comfortable.
I had great personal respect for his approach and his style; on the OT's he believed in and adopted a policy of partnership and mutual respect. He did a very great deal to encourage all the OT's to move forward and to develop at our own pace.
Councilor Roger Edwards expressed shock at the sudden death but Cllr. Norma Edwards mentioned that the Overseas Territories were one of Mr. Cook’s inspirations, making the announcement about the new department at a meeting with Falklands Councilors. She described him as a friend of the Falklands
Former Councilor Lewis Clifton remembered that in 1999, when Councilors wanted a way forward over the Lan Chile flights, it was Robin Cook, as Foreign Secretary, who made it possible for the 1999 Agreement.
People on the street remember his anti war stance and the consequences he paid for standing up for his principles. He will be sadly missed.
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