CALL BY SIR MICHAEL MARSHALL MP 4 MAY
Background
IPU Conference
1. The IPU Conference took place in New Delhi 12-17 April. a copy of Sir Michael's letter to the PM is attached as is a copy of my report on the Conference. Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan, the Marshall Islands, Nigeria and Slovenia joined the IPU as well as the Czech and Slovak Republics (Replacing Czechoslovakia). Algeria's suspension was lifted but both Peru and the Central African Republic were suspended.
2. The situation in the former Yugoslavia was a major focus of attention and the Conference passed a supplementary / resolution, copy attached.
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Mission to Belgrade
3.
There appears to be some doubt within the IPU Secretariat in Geneva whether Sir Michael has a mandate to undertake such a visit. A copy of Sir Michael's letter to The Times on 28 April underlining the positive aspects of such a visit is attached. He is keen to make it and is tentatively exploring the options of making a one-day trip by car to Belgrade from Budapest where he will be attending an IPU Human Rights Conference 19-22 May.
India
4.
Sir Michael had calls on the Indian Prime Minister and the new Minister for Communications. Summaries of his meetings are attached. Sir Michael's main thrust was to press the claims of British Aerospace and Cable and Wireless, both of whom are in negotiations with the Indian Government in respect of Hawk trainers and a possible British Telecom link-up respectively.
Hong Kong/China
5. At his meeting with Mr Zhu Qizhen, leader of the Chinese IPU delegation, in Delhi (copy of record attached)
Sir Michael Marshall proposed the establishment of a joint working party of Parliamentarians. He also offered to visit Peking in September en route to the IPU Conference in
Canberra.