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| Blair salutes Falklands veterans | Blair salutes Falklands veterans |
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| Prime Minister Tony Blair has met Falklands War veterans, on the 25th anniversary of the invasion of the islands by Argentina. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has met Falklands War veterans, on the 25th anniversary of the invasion of the islands by Argentina. |
| He said he was "honoured" to meet the group on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, Scotland. | He said he was "honoured" to meet the group on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, Scotland. |
| "It's a day to reflect on just how much, as a country, we owe to our armed forces," he said. | "It's a day to reflect on just how much, as a country, we owe to our armed forces," he said. |
| Baroness Thatcher, prime minister at the time, is attending a private ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral. | |
| The 74-day war claimed the lives of 255 Britons, 655 Argentines and three islanders. | The 74-day war claimed the lives of 255 Britons, 655 Argentines and three islanders. |
| Active duty | Active duty |
| Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates on the HMS Liverpool on Monday. | Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates on the HMS Liverpool on Monday. |
| The Type 42 destroyer has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty. | The Type 42 destroyer has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty. |
| Among those meeting Mr Blair were Lt Com Nigel Smith, who was an able seaman on board HMS Active in 1982 - when he was just 19 years old. | Among those meeting Mr Blair were Lt Com Nigel Smith, who was an able seaman on board HMS Active in 1982 - when he was just 19 years old. |
| I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago Tony Blair BBC scooped invasion news Argentina marks invasion Business as usual on invasion day | I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago Tony Blair BBC scooped invasion news Argentina marks invasion Business as usual on invasion day |
| Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown. | Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown. |
| Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learnt during the Falklands War. | Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learnt during the Falklands War. |
| He added: "I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago." | He added: "I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago." |
| He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands Islands, against the advice of defence officials, after the Argentine invasion on 2 April 1982. | He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands Islands, against the advice of defence officials, after the Argentine invasion on 2 April 1982. |
| In an interview for the Downing Street website, he added: "It was perfectly obvious there was only one way you were going to get it back, and that was by military action." | In an interview for the Downing Street website, he added: "It was perfectly obvious there was only one way you were going to get it back, and that was by military action." |
| His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester, undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard. | His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester, undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard. |
| Defence equipment and support minister Lord Drayson said it showed progress was being made in developing a framework for a surface ship support alliance - something he described as an "essential element of the defence industrial strategy". | Defence equipment and support minister Lord Drayson said it showed progress was being made in developing a framework for a surface ship support alliance - something he described as an "essential element of the defence industrial strategy". |