Argentinian reinforcement nearly complete

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 1

Argentinian reinforcement nearly complete

NZPA Buenos Aires As the deadline for the British blockade of the Falkland Islands passed at 4 p.m. New Zealand time yesterday, Argentina’s commander of the ‘'Southern Atlantic Theatre of operations" said the reinforcement of the islands was nearly complete. “The transporting of troops and materials is nearly complete and we are ready to confront the emergency," Admiral Juan Lombardo told the private Argentine news agency, D.Y.N., in Bahia Blanca, the Argentinian fleet’s headquarters 690 km south of Buenos Aires.

“We are prepared to fight, although we would prefer a peaceful solution," said a high ranking officer who asked not to be identified. “It all depends on the British now."

The British battle fleet headed by two ' aircraft carriers is still a week away from Falkland waters. But the nuclear-powered ■ submarine Superb is in the area, Britain’s Minister of Defence, Mr John Nott, has acknowledged.

D.Y.N. said blackout air raid drills continued in Argentina's coastal cities last night.

The Mayor of Comodoro Rivadavia,' a southern city whose air force base could make it a target of a British air strike, said 3000 residents had had first-aid training. The airbase in the city 1800 km south of Buenos Aires has been the main staging point for reinforcement of the Falklands. Hercules transports have been ferrying troops and munitions almost continuously since the April 2 occupation. Military sources quoted the Buenos Aires newspapers say 6000 troops are defending the gale-swept archipelago. The Foreign Minister (Dr Costa Mendez) told D.Y.N. that negotiations with Britain through the United States were "very difficult.”

“But I have faith. We must negotiate and negotiate until we find peace — until we gain the recognition of our rights in a peaceful and just manner.” he said.

The Easter Sunday holiday did not prevent the Foreign Ministry from calling in ambassadors from European Common Market nations.

A Ministry statement said the ambassadors had been told of Argentina's “profound displeasure” over the ban, which was announced on Saturday.

The protest was made to the ambassadors of eight of the E.E.C.’s 10 members - West Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Eire, Greece, Belgium, and Italy.

Britain, which broke off diplomatic relations after Argentinian troops seized the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, banned imports from Argentina and asked its E.E.C. partners to do the same.

The Foreign Ministry has condemned the E.E.C. action, calling it “violent economic aggression” and reserving the right “to adopt appropriate measures.”

Argentina has said that imports from E.E.C. countries would be subject to government approval on a case-by-case basis, a measure it had already applied to imports from Britain.

Further reports, page 8