CONFIDENTIAL
031462
MDLIAN 5492
EXTENDING AIR LINKS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND WOULD PROBABLY REACT POSITIVELY TO AN APPROACH FROM US FOR ASA NEGOTIATIONS. WE ARE NEVERTHELESS UNEASY ABOUT COMMENCING NEGOTIATIONS IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY. WE ARE ALSO UNCLEAR ABOUT THE CHINESE RELATIONS WITH THE VARIOUS CAMBODIAN FACTIONS AND THE IMPACT SUCH RELATIONSHIPS HAVE ON OUR APPROACH FOR AN ASA. WE WONDER THEREFORE WHETHER IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO HOLD OFF A DECISION AT LEAST UNTIL AFTER THE CAMBODIAN GENERAL ELECTION DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY 1993.
4. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF PHNOM PENH ON THE MOST PRUDENT COURSE.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
44
DISTRIBUTION
51
.AIR SERVICES
AMD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD//MR HARRISON E203
HKD
SEAD
PS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
MR CROWE,
MR BONE
MR HUM
MR MASEFIELD
ADDITIONAL
7
IAD RM S608 DEPT TRANSPORT
INT AVIATION&TOURISM DIV CAA
NNNN
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