British PM to visit Argentina

Iguazu Falls on the Brazil-Argentina border

UK Prime minister Tony Blair is set to become the first serving British leader to visit Argentina when he crosses the border from Brazil on Wednesday, 1 August.

He will meet Argentine President Fernando de la Rua close to the tourist beauty spot of Iguazu Falls, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.

Mr. Blair's trip will include Jamaica and Mexico as well as Brazil and Argentina.

The relationship between the two countries is a more rich and developed relationship than simply being about one issue

British government spokesman

Britain and Argentina broke off diplomatic relations after the Falklands War in 1982.

They were re-established in 1990 on the understanding that the two countries would not discuss Britain's sovereignty over the islands, which Argentina disputes.

Since then, relations have gradually thawed.

Royals

Several members of the British royal family, including Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, who served in the Falklands conflict, have visited Argentina.

Argentine relative visiting Falklands grave

In 1998, the then Argentine President, Carlos Menem, paid an official visit to Britain.

The question of the islands' sovereignty will not be discussed during the visit to Argentina, a spokesman for Mr. Blair said.

"The relationship between the two countries is a more rich and developed relationship than simply being about one issue," the spokesman insisted.

Almost 1,000 members of the armed forces of the two countries were killed in the 1982 conflict.

Argentine forces occupied the islands on April 1 1982, and finally surrendered to members of a British task force ten weeks later.