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004063 MDHIAN 9355
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FM LISBON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 41
OF 152113Z JANUARY 92
TO
IMMEDIATE FCOLN
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, DELHI
HICC 031
31/4
3 TAN 199
INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, SINGAPORE
INFO PRIORITY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, HONG KONG, SEOUL, JAKARTA INFO PRIORITY CANBERRA, EC POSTS, UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, INFO PRIORITY TOKYO
INFO SAVING STRASBOURG
NEW DELHI FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY
POLITICAL COMMITTEE, LISBON, 14-15 JANUARY
CHINA
SUMMARY
1.
UK AND FRANCE PRESS FOR EARLY MINISTERIAL DISCUSSION OF 16 DECEMBER DECISION AND PUBLISHING OF DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS. OTHERS MORE CAUTIOUS. AGREEMENT ON PRESIDENCY PLAN TO DISCUSS AT 17 FEBRUARY EPC MINISTERIAL ON BASIS OF A FURTHER DEMARCHE, OUTCOME OF LI PENG'S VISIT TO LISBON, AND A REPORT FROM THE NEXT ASIA WORKING GROUP.
DETAIL
2. VANNI (ITALY) SAID THAT HE WANTED TO REGISTER HIS OBJECTION TO THE RECORD OF THE DISCUSSION ON EC RELATIONS WITH CHINA AT THE 16 DECEMBER FAC AND TO THE WAY THESE DISCUSSIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE. IT WAS QUITE WRONG TO OVERTURN THE POLICY ON CHINA AGREED AT THE OCTOBER 1990 FAC ON THE BASIS OF SUCH A BRIEF DISCUSSION, IN WHICH ONLY A FEW MINISTERS HAD SPOKEN. HE REMAINED CONVINCED THAT MAINTAINING THE DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE WAS THE BEST WAY OF ENCOURAGING THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
3.
BRUUN (DENMARK) BRIEFLY RECALLED THE HISTORY OF DANISH INTEREST IN THIS QUESTION. HE ARGUED THAT MINISTERS HAD TAKEN A DECISION ON 16 DECEMBER. POLITICAL DIRECTORS WERE MANDATED TO REPORT BACK TO MINISTERS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA. THEY COULD DRAW ON THE REPORT FROM HEADS OF MISSION IN PEKING. THERE HAD BEEN NO
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