CCAFEA WTLAL
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negotiate confidence building measures of real military
significance.
6. Together with the United Kingdom's partners, y Government
have played a constructive role in the search for acceptable
solutions to international problems which have placed East-West
relations under strain. Acting on behalf of the Ten member
states of the European Community, they have presented proposals
for a Conference on Afghanistan designed to enable Afghanistan
to resume its independent and non-aligned status.
7. On
1 July the United Kingdom assumed the Presidency
of the Council of Ministers of the European Community for a
period of six months. In fulfilling the duties of this role,
been secting as in the preceding period, my Government have/ sought to play
a constructive part in the work of the Community and in
European political cooperation.
Discussions have begun on the
review of the development of Community policies and the
operation of the budget to which member states committed
themselves on 30 May 1980. The Community reached agreement on
a satisfactory settlement on agricultural prices for the
current financial year and on important measures safeguarding
the future of the steel industry. My Government have continued
to work for the conclusion of a revised common fisheries policy
which will protect the interests of our fishing industry.
My
Government welcomed the accession of Greece to the European
Community on
1 January this year.
8. My Government, together with the other members of the
European Community have continued to work for a negotiated
peace in the Arab-Israel conflict acceptable to all parties.
The statement made at Venice by the Heads of State and
Government of the European Community on 13 June 1980 has
remained the basis for these pace efforts.
CONFIDENTIAL
19.
The