CONFIDENTIAL
MINISTERIAL VISITS COMMITTEE
MEETING OF MVC SUB-COMMITTEE
1.
The sub-Committee met on 24 October to consider the attached departmental proposals for visits overseas in 1986 by the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and other FCO Ministers.
2.
The sub-Committee noted generally that as the United Kingdom will hold the Presidency of the European Community during the second half of the year British Ministers making bilateral visits overseas during that period will additionally be visiting on behalf of the Community. In particular, the Prime Minister will travel as Chairman of the European Council.
Prime Minister
3.
The sub-Committee recommended that the Prime Minister
should visit Kenya, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (serial 5) during the first half of the year, preferably during the Easter Recess (eg last week in March). If conditions permitted, the inclusion of Nigeria in the tour would also be a high priority, but unfortunately the prospects appeared poor. President Kaunda's chirmanship of the FLS made Zambia a good candidate, but
given the Prime Minister's attendance at CHOGM in Lusaka in 1979
the case was less strong than for the others.
4.
The Prime Minister had not yet visited Africa apart
from the CHOGM meeting. The case for a visit was considerably
strengthened by the international attention now being given to
the problem of South Africa. The proposed tour would both dem-
onstrate the importance we attached to black Africa and provide
an opportunity for the Prime Minister to put across her own
convictions to important African leaders away from the heightened
emotional atmosphere which characterised the Nassau CHOGM. This
would be particularly useful if the visit took place in the lead-up to the six month review of policy towards South Africa agreed at
Nassau. There would of course be risks both as regards black
African pressure on the Prime Minister over sanctions and South
/African
CONFIDENTIAL
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