Falklands : The First World Summit on Fishing Sustainability Used for Childish Protest
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 16.09.2009 (Article Archived on 30.09.2009)
According to Cllr Mike Summers, who spoke to the media at 1600hrs LMT on Wednesday, 16 September 2009, Cllr Richard Cockwell and Chief Fisheries Scientist Sasha Arkhipkin, who are attending the First World Summit on Fishing Sustainability is taking place in Baiona, Pontevedra in Spain, have been blocked from participating on day two of the event.
The First World Summit on Fishing Sustainability Used for Childish Protest
An Editorial by J. Brock (FINN)
According to Cllr Mike Summers, who spoke to the media at 1600hrs LMT on Wednesday, 16 September 2009, Cllr Richard Cockwell and Chief Fisheries Scientist Sasha Arkhipkin, who are attending the First World Summit on Fishing Sustainability is taking place in Baiona, Pontevedra in Spain, have been blocked from participating on day two of the event.
The first day went all right with all invited participants being seated but it was on the second day of the conference when the Falklands’ team had their name plates removed from the table and were prevented from speaking due to a demand from Argentina.
Cllr Summers went on to say that the Spanish Government specifically invited the Falklands Government fisheries officials to attend the event. Cllr Cockwell reported that the Argentines did not speak on day two either. He went on to say that this was due to the Argentine delegation being embarrassed by what their government had done.
Private sector representatives also attended the conference and Cllr Summers said that this action was unacceptable to them.
Cllr Cockwell made it very clear to the Spanish that the Falklands delegation were offended with what happened. “Really the Argentines need to grow up, the other country’s delegates just found it ridiculous, the Argentines just made fools of themselves.” Cllr Cockwell told the media.
We have Argentine Rugby representatives in the Islands at the moment. They are here to spread good will. It’s a shame some of that good will hasn’t been forthcoming at this world-wide conference. It could actually be good for Argentina's reputation.
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