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037340 MDHIAN 0820,
HIS WISH TO VISIT THE UK AS A SIGN OF THE IMPORTANCE HE AND THE ARGENTINE PEOPLE ATTACHED TO THE RELATIONSHIP. IT WAS FOR THE FCO/MFA TO AGREE THE BEST TIMING AND AGENDA. DI TELLA HOPED THAT A DATE EARLY IN 1993 COULD BE AGREED AND OLIMA PRESSED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN JUNE FOR A VISIT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993.
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TENTH ANNIVERSARY: IT WAS AGREED THAT BOTH GOVERNMENTS WOULD DO WHAT THEY COULD TO ENSURE THAT EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY WERE CARRIED OUT WITH DIGNITY AND RESTRAINT. BUT IT WAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAD ONLY LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL THE ACTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS.
6.
HONG KONG VISA WAIVER: THE ARGENTINES HAD DOUBTS ABOUT SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT UP TO THE ELEVENTH HOUR. BUT, AFTER LOBBYING BY THE MINISTER, THEY AGREED TO SIGNATURE LATE ON 24 JANUARY AND A SEPARATE SIGNING CEREMONY WAS HELD THAT EVENING.
7. GATT: THE ARGENTINES WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. THE DUNKEL PACKAGE DID NOT GIVE THEM ALL THAT THEY WANTED BUT IT WAS THE BASIS FOR A FAIR AGREEMENT. THEY WOULD BE RAISING GATT DURING PRESIDENT MENEM'S VISIT TO PARIS ON 16 FEBRUARY. MR GAREL-JONES PROMISED TO SEND THEM A BRIEFING NOTE.
8. IMF: CAVALLO SOUGHT THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S SUPPORT FOR HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE IMF ON AN EXTENDED FINANCING FACILITY.
MY TELNO 49 REFERS.
9.
PRIVATISATIONS: IN RESPONSE TO LOBBYING BY A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF NORTH WEST WATER THE MINISTER ASKED CAVALLO TO ACCEPT A COMFORT LETTER RATHER THAN A TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC GUARANTEE TO ENABLE PRE-QUALIFICATION. CAVALLO GAVE INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR A GUARANTEE SHOULD BE TREATED FLEXIBLY.
10. MILITARY CONTACTS/SUPPLIES: THE ARGENTINES ASKED ABOUT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY CONTACTS AND OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SUPPLY OF NAVAL SPARE PARTS. MR GAREL-JONES SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF MILITARY CONTACTS WAS UNDER REVIEW AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN AUTUMN
I.E. AFTER THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY.
11.
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (NOBLEZA-PICCARDO) : MR GAREL-JONES PRESSED THAT THE MATTER SHOULD GO TO ARBITATION. CAVALLO WAS DUBIOUS ABOUT WHETHER THAT RECOURSE WAS AVAILABLE UNDER TAX LAW. HE PROMISED TO TAKE THE MATTER UP AGAIN WITH TACCHI (THE UNDER-
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