CONFIDENTIAL
ANNEX B
ΝΑΤΟ
1. The evident importance of our major NATO partners (France,
Germany and the US) makes Ministerial contact with these countries
of the highest priority. However, in practice opportunities for
this arise regularly through the 6-monthly meetings of the DPC
and NPG (excluding France) and (excluding US) through the Euro-
group, IEPG and, most recently, the WEU. The Secretary of State
also, in general, attends the summits with France and Germany
where he has the opportunity to meet his opposite numbers from
these countries. With one exception, we have not, therefore,
included any specific recommendations for these countries.
2. The upturn in contacts with the French Defence Minister
which was noted in 1983 has not been maintained and, apart from
meetings to discuss specific problems over EFA, there was only
one bilateral meeting (at the Summit) in 1984. High level con-
tacts have a prima facie importance in view of the coincidence
of our interests (European nuclear powers, out of area capabili-
ties, collaborative projects and space), and their value has been
reinforced by the recent summit in Paris. For these reasons it
would be valuable to arrange a meeting with M Hernu during the
course of this year, although this could be an inward visit in
view of the other demands on the Secretary of State's time; the
timing would need to be carefully considered in relation to EFA
developments and French pre-occupations with 1986 legislative
elections from the latter end of the year.
3. Italy's sensitivity over exclusion from the tri-lateral
arrangements seems to have been assuaged though she still resents
any implied devaluation of her importance as a partner. There
were several meetings at Defence Minister level in 1984 (Anglo- Italian Summit, Spaldolini's visit to Farnborough and NPG in Stresa)
B
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CONFIDENTIAL