CONFIDENTIAL
057444
MDHIAN 9052
RESCIND THE DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST RUSHDIE AND TO ENCOURAGE ITALY TO STICK TO THE EC BAN ON HIGH LEVEL CONTACTS (ALTHOUGH DE MICHELIS DOUBTLESS HOPES THIS WILL BE LIFTED BY THE TIME HE VISITS IRAN).
HONG KONG
7. ITALIAN MINISTERS ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING WHETHER TO GRANT LONG TERM VISAS TO HONG KONG CITIZENS WORKING FOR ITALIAN COMPANIES (MY TELNO 246). THIS FOLLOWED AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND DE MICHELIS FOLLOWING THE LATTER'S VISIT TO VIETNAM AND HONG KONG IN DECEMBER. THIS MAY THEREFORE BE THE
OCCASION TO PRESS THE ITALIANS ON WHAT MEASURES THEY PROPOSE TAKING
TO STRENGTHEN CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
SOUTH AFRICA
8. THE EC TROIKA MISSION TO SOUTH AFRICA IN APRIL APPEARS TO HAVE CONVINCED THE ITALIANS OF THE NEED TO DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE DE KLERK ON THE PATH OF REFORM. AT LAST MONTH'S EPC MEETING, PERLOT SPOKE OF THE NEED TO GRADUATE' RESTRICTIVE MEASURES AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA CDUBLIN TELNO 349 TO FCO). THIS IS SOMETHING OF A REVERSAL IN
ITALIAN POLICY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY THEREFORE WISH TO ENCOURAGE THE ITALIANS TO TAKE SOME PRACTICAL STEPS TOWARDS LIFTING RESTRICTIVE MEASURES. THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE SOME IN MIND, GIVEN THAT DE KLERK IS DUE TO VISIT ROME ON 25 MAY.
STATE VISIT
9. THE QUEEN'S FORMAL INVITATION HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO PRESIDENT COSSIGA (MY TELNO 178). WE AWAIT HIS REPLY, ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD BE A FORMALITY. PARTY LEADERS HAVE APPARENTLY ASSURED COSSIGA THAT THEY WILL NOT CREATE DOMESTIC POLITICAL PROBLEMS WHICH, AS IN 1987, COULD JEOPARDISE THE VISIT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD USEFULLY REMIND BOTH ANDREOTTI AND DE MICHELIS OF THE DATES (23-26 OCTOBER) TOGETHER WITH A GENTLE HINT THAT NOTHING MUST BE ALLOWED TO PREVENT
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT.
DRUGS
TO. WE AND THE ITALIANS ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON CONFISCATION OF ASSETS READY FOR SIGNATURE BY 16 MAY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY WITH TO THANK THE ITALIANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE WORLD MINISTERIAL SUMMIT ON DRUGS (INCLUDING THE
KEYNOTE SPEECH BY INTERIOR MINISTER GAVA.
OTHER ISSUES
11. OTHER TOPICS LIKELY TO ARISE INCLUDE EAST-WEST RELATIONS, LITHUANIA, DISARMAMENT AND NATO ISSUES, ALTHOUGH THESE ARE
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