Argentine President - leads commemoration in Ushuaia

Argentine President is to lead the commemorations held today in Ushuaia.

Commemorative events and ceremonies were scheduled to be held today, on the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War. The main event in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, will be led by the Argentine President.

The President will give a televised speech today at midday at the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) square, alongside a monument representing the map of the islands and near a cenotaph with the names of those killed in combat.

Part of the ceremony will include the annual replacement of the Argentine flag flown from the square. The new flag will be provided by the ANSeS social security agency.

The Vice-President  will participate in a similar ceremony in Río Grande, also in Tierra del Fuego, alongside Cabinet ministers including Interior Minister and Foreign Minister. 

 (Falkland Islands)  square. The ceremony will pay tribute to the 649 Argentines who died during the war and all combatants.

Malvinas war veterans from across Argentina yesterday arrived in the city, and also Río Grande, to participate in the vigil. Carlos Latorre, the head of the Falklands veterans centre, confirmed that speakers at the ceremony would include the President, Ushuaia mayor Federico Sciurano and Tierra del Fuego Governor Fabiana Ríos.

Meanwhile, former conscripts began the vigil yesterday at 5pm with the screening of a documentary called “Malvinas, aún esperan” (Falklands: Still waiting) by Sandro Rojas Filártiga.

Several artists were expected to perform yesterday evening through to this morning, as well as an Armed Forces exhibition of different weapons used in the 1982 war.

At midnight last night the traditional removal and replacement of the Argentine flag that displayed in Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) square occurred. The replacement flag, which is changed every year due to wind damage, was donated by the ANSES social security agency.

Other ceremonies will be held in most provinces.

Access denied

Sources reported that two Argentine businessmen, belonging to the airport and telecommunications sectors, were denied permission to visit the Falklandss on the grounds that the Islands were “packed” for today’s anniversary.