This year has gone so fast that it seems almost impossible that the time has come once again to say “Happy Christmas” .
We in Britain send all our friends in the Falkland Islands our warmest Christmas greetings and my personal good wishes for peace and prosperity in the coming year.
Our thoughts are always with you, but especially at this time of year, a time when families traditionally celebrate the year that has passed and look forward to the new one to come. Though oceans may divide us, we share this moment with you as only families and close friends can.
As we look back, we can all take pride and pleasure in our achievements. In the last five years, the Islands have been transformed. You have seen the building of Mount Pleasant and the development of better services and local business, and I am so pleased that some of you have taken on your own sheep stations.
1987 was also a successful year for the fisheries. The decision to establish a zone around the Falklands has been proved right. Conservation goals have been met and the financial benefits of the arrangements will enable you to carry on the development work [end p1] already started and to plan for your future in a way that has not been possible before.
And I would like to congratulate those Councillors who represented you at the annual United Nations debate. They did a marvellous job. Even those governments at New York which stubbornly refused to recognise your right to decide your own future cannot fail to have been impressed by the arguments of your Councillors.
Democracy and justice win through in the end and you have my renewed assurance that Britain will continue to defend your freedom and your democratic rights. We will not negotiate on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
And I should like to add my warm good wishes also to the service men and women serving on the Falklands and to those working on construction and development. You are playing a vital part in shaping the Island's future and although you are a long way from home, we are thinking of you with gratitude for all that you are doing.
In the last weeks, historic events have been taking place with the signing of the nuclear weapons treaties. You may think that these are far away from the Falklands. Not so! For as I was waiting to welcome Mr. Gorbachev at RAF Brize Norton, there standing on the tarmac was one of the Tristars which do the regular run to the Falklands. It reminded me of my own visit in the older Hercules. So, in the midst of momentous world events, our thoughts turn to you, for today we live in a global village. [end p2]
Happy Christmas to you all!
The people of the Falkland Islands, like all of us here in Britain, can go into the New Year with hearts brimful of hope and confidence.