Item WOOLLY AL 3/3 - Transcript of interview with Nicanor Costa Mendez, former Argentinian Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1991

Typescript transcript of interview with Dr Nicanor Costa Méndez, Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1981-1982, relating to his meeting with the Argentine Military Junta, Army Headquarters, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the decision to invade the Falkland Islands, 26 Mar 1982; his assessment of the British and US reaction to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands prior to 2 Apr 1982; the Argentine belief that the US would remain neutral throughout the Falklands crisis, and that the invasion would result in negotiations with the UK over future sovereignty of the islands, Apr 1982; the Argentine belief that the occupation of the Falkland Islands did not infringe international law, Apr 1982; the refusal, by Lt Gen Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, President of Argentina, to speak on the telephone with US President Ronald Wilson Reagan prior to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, 1 Apr 1982; his opinion of the character of Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr, US Secretary of State, 1981-1982, Washington DC, US, Apr 1982; discussions with Haig on the possibility of creating a tripartite administration in the Falkland Islands, Apr 1982; Costa Méndez's relationship with the Argentine Military Junta, Apr 1982; the importance of the role of Gen Vernon Anthony Walters, US Ambassador-at-large, in Haig's negotiating team, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Apr 1982; popular support in Argentina for the occupation of the Falkland Islands, and its influence on the Military Junta's stance during the peace negotiations, Apr 1982; US was provision of assistance to the Royal Navy Task Force during its voyage south to the Falkland Islands, Apr 1982; US plans to evacuate diplomatic staff from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Montevideo, Uruguay, 15-19 Apr 1982; Haig's meeting with the Military Junta, Buenos Aires, Argentina, [18] Apr 1982; the details of Haig's final peace proposal and its rejection by the Argentine Military Junta, 18-19 Apr 1982; the peace proposals tabled by Dr Fernando Belaúnde Terry, President of Peru, [30 Apr] 1982; the emergency meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Washington DC, 26 Apr 1982; the message from Galtieri indicating greater Argentinean flexibility in future negotiations over the Falkland Islands, 29 Apr 1982; the final meeting between Costa Méndez and Haig and the US announcement of support for the UK, and economic sanctions against Argentina, 30 Apr 1982; the failure of Haig's shuttle diplomacy, 8-19 Apr 1982; the meeting between Costa Méndez, President Belaúnde and the Argentine Military Junta, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2 May 1982; the influence on the Belaúnde peace proposals, 2-7 of the sinking of the Argentine cruiser GENERAL BELGRANO, by HM Submarine CONQUEROR, 2 May 1982. 23pp