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take account of elections scheduled for September).
Yugoslavia's
continued independence is of major importance to NATO and both
the FCO and Chiefs of Staff attack high priority to fostering
close links with her. For some years both the FCO and ourselves
have hoped to arrange an outward visit by the Secretary of State
but this has not so far proved possible; since both US of S(DP)
and CNS have visited Yugoslavia within the last year, we
recommend that for this year the Yugoslav Defence Secretary be
invited to visit the UK, and an outward visit by our
Secretary of State held over until a later date. An inward
visit by US of S(DP)'s opposite number, Col Kadijevic, would also
be appropriate, in return for Mr Lee's own visit to Yugoslavia
last year.
9. The FCO have suggested an S of S level inward visit by the
Swiss Head of Federal Military Department; however, we do not
consider this of high priority and believe that our sales interests
in Switzerland would be adequately covered by a visit by US of S(DP)
which may be required by the decision on AST 412.
10.
Finally the Secretary of State has to make a formal visit
to the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), though he received a
briefing on them when on holiday in the Island last year and
toured facilities in the Eastern SBA. It would be possible
to combine a brief further visit (to include the Western SBA
and, perhaps, UNFICYP) with the visits to either India or Oman.
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