European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily thaw at last in falklands rift by Clara Germani National geographic poured to a Chilly Beauty by the same Antarctic wind s and fish Rich South Atlantic currents the Falkland islands and the Argentine Mainland Are ust 350 Miles apart Bui politically they re from different worlds helpers As the English speaking islanders Are known have Little in common Wilh Spanish speaking argentines who even Call the islands by a different name the Malamas the Hearty inhabitants of the British Colony have a Rural lifestyle closely tied to the land and sea by the Wool and fishing industries the average Argentine by contrast is Urban and Middle class Argentina s historic claim to sovereignty of the falklands Ted to the Flash fire 1982 War with Britain although Argentina suffered a humiliating loss after its invasion of the islands it maintains its claim to them talks began in Madrid Between Argentina and Britain last october marking the first successful Steps to mend diplomatic and economic relations broken during the two month War but the thaw Between the two governments has met Little enthusiasm either in Argentina or on the islands ironically As the Madrid talks began the t ,400 Falkland Island voters elected a new legislature that is unanimously opposed to establishing any ties to their nearest neighbors the argentines still bitter about the War islanders Are comfortable using Uruguay and Chile and direct airline ties to Britain As their links to the outside world says Terry Peck a newly elected falklands legislator. The British Argentine talks which Are to continue in National geographic a falklands government boat delivers a fishing License to a polish trawler. The falklands collect fees from foreign fleets for permission to fish within 150 nautical Miles of the islands. February Are not about the falklands they Are because of the falklands says a British Diplomat the two nations Are not even discussing their rival claims to the islands the talks Are a breakthrough in a diplomatic stalemate Argentina had steadfastly refused under the administration of the former president Raul Alfonsin. To talk with the British if the discussion did not include the Issue of sovereignly an Issue the British victors of the War consider moot Argentina s recently elected Peronis president. Saul Menem in october pardoned three former officers of the military dictatorship who had been convicted of mishandling the 1982 War. During the election Campaign. Menem promised that he would regain the falklands by blood and fire if necessary yet his unexpected decision to talk with the British is widely viewed As a pragmatic step toward gaining Trade and financial relations with the european economic Community. The two countries so tar have agreed to re nit tonal a or pc thousands of mines were sown by Argentine soldiers during their disastrous War with great Britain in 1902. Signs and barbed wire fences Are still necessary on some beaches. Establish consular ties to lift All restrictions on commercial and financial relations and to discuss cooperation on conservation of the Rich South Atlantic fisheries principally squid that have become an economic Bonanza since the War Falk Landers maintain a characteristically insular attitude toward the talks says Ian strange an Island author and naturalist. It s hard for the average person Here to grasp that these talks ultimately Are about this place " strange suggests that it would be of Long Lerm Benefit to the islands to work out fisheries conservation agreements with the nearby argentines who share the Atlantic Waters but he notes that the one legislative candidate in the october elections who suggested this was soundly Defeated academics and diplomats who hold this longer View see a significant precedent in the Way the falklands dispute eventually will be settled Long an isolated and relatively unimportant Colony with confusing historic territorial claims the falklands represent an Issue that might not be dissimilar to future claims to the Antarctic the potential natural resources and possible strategic value of that continent represent Hugh multinational stakes or the needs of a More crowded 21st-Century world. The Falkland islands dispute will be remembered As the catalyst for Argentine democracy and the transformation of a poor British outpost into a self sufficient even wealthy Economy although the falklands Are still basically a Hamlet spread Over 600 Square Miles of islands the Tempo of life has picked up considerably the War focused lavish British attention and Money on the islands Argentina s continued claims of sovereignty and the argentines granting of fishing rights to soviet ships in the Region led the British to declare an exclusive 150 mile fishing conservation zone around the falklands that zone alone has made the falklands More than self sufficient economically fishing License and joint venture revenues have expanded the islands operating budget eightfold since the outbreak of the War although it s bittersweet compensation Lor the 1982 conflict the new found wealth allows wolpers to feel like an asset for Britain which in prewar Days had contemplated letting the islands revert to Argentine control. Such sentiments Are now Seldom heard in Britain or the falklands tuesday january 23, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13