GRS 290 CONFIDENTIAL
FM THE HAGUE
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKBY 19090OZ FCO
TELNO 315
OF 16160OZ MAY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS
29
нам 16611
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
19 MAY 1986
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
INFO ROUTINE ALL OTHER EC POSTS, MOSCOW, BELGRADE, WARSAW INFO ROUTINE BUCHAREST, BUDAPEST INFO SAVING PRAGUE, SOFIA
FRAME GENERAL
62
YOUR TELNO 180) CHERNOBYL: EC BAN ON FOOD FROM EASTERN EUROPE
SUMMARY
1. THE DUTCH ARE MAKING PUBLIC SUCH DATA AS IS AVAILABLE ON RADIATION LEVELS IN EASTERN EUROPE. PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT THE DISASTER GENERALLY REMAINS HIGH, AND OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE DUTCH ARE UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT A RELAXATION OF THE BAN BEFORE 31 MAY.
DETAIL
2.
THE EMERGENCY INFORMATION CENTRE SET UP BY THE DUTCH MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE CONFIRMED TO US THAT THEY ARE MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SUCH DATA AS THEY HAVE ON RESIDUAL RADIATION IN EASTERN EUROPE. BUT THEY HAVE STRESSED THAT THE INFORMATION IS OF VARYING QUALITY: DATA RECEIVED FROM POLAND AND ROMANIA FOR EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PATCHY, WHEREAS OTHERS, SUCH AS THE HUNGARIANS, HAVE BEEN MORE FORTHCOMING.
3. THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE DISASTER GENERALLY REMAINS HIGH: THE INFORMATION CENTRE ESTIMATE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED. NEARLY 70,000 ENQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC SINCE THE DISASTER OCCURRED. THE QUESTION OF IMPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS FROM EASTERN EUROPE IS OF COURSE ONLY ONE ELEMENT IN PUBLIC CONCERN, AND PROBABLY ONLY A COMPARATIVELY MARGINAL ONE. BUT WITH GENERAL ELECTIONS DUE ON 21 MAY, THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO WANT TO PLAY SAFE. 4. THE OPINION OF OFFICIALS ABOUT A POSSIBLE EARLY RELAXATION OF THE BAN VARIES SOMEWHAT FROM MINISTRY TO MINISTRY. THE RELEVANT PEOPLE IN THE MFA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE RADIATION LEVEL NORMS APPLIED BY THE COMMUNITY ARE TOO STRINGENT, AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE MERIT IN EXEMPTING CERTAIN PRODUCTS AND CERTAIN COUNTRIES (EG YUGOSLAVIA) FROM THE BAN BEFORE 31 MAY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE LAID STRESS ON THE NEED FOR THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BEFORE A RELAXATION OF THE BAN CEFORE 31 MAY COULD BE JUSTIFIED. THE DUTCH ARE STILL DISCUSSING THEIR POSITION INTERNALLY, BUT WE EXPECT THE VIEWS OF THOSE IN FAVOUR OF NON-RELAXATION TO PREVAIL.
MARGETSON
FRAME GENERAL
ECD (1) ECP(E) NED RED
CONFIDENTIAL
REPEATED AS REQUESTED