SECRET UK EYES A
POLITICAL-MILITARY AND DEFENCE STAFF TALKS
9. UK/Bahrein Defence Staff Talks. These took place in May
and the main issue to be agreed was the question of jurisdiction
in the MOU. The Bahreinis accepted Administrative and Technical status (ie diplomatic). They were the first Gulf State to do so
and this will hopefully set a precedent for the area.
40.
UK/Italian Defence Staff Talks.
talian
These took place in July
and the main issue involving us was terrorism in the Middle East
and North Africa. The Italians are very aware of their
geographical closeness to this and gave us their views on the current and future threats. A large measure of agreement of
future cooperation was achieved.
41. UK/US Political - Military talks : Diego Garcia sub-group.
This meets twice yearly in April and October. Arrangements
continue to work well with the US being properly sensitive towards British Sovereignty and consequent issues.
No major
problems are envisaged.
42. In addition there have been a number of single service
bilateral staff talks with OOA countries at which a range of military topics were discussed.
VIP VISITS
43.
Outward visits by COS and Ministers in 1989 are shown on the
map at Annex A.
COS STRATEGIC PRIORITY LIST
44.
One of the objectives for the OOACG in 1989 has been to
improve the alignment of subsidies for military assistance to 00A
countries with COS priorities. Particular cases in point were considered to be Botswana and Jordan and after careful review
during the year by the DPF Management Group, a satisfactory way
SECRET UK EYES A
17