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HONG KONG
8.
Sir J Coles explained our position on Hong Kong and its dominance in our relations with China. Afanasiev said that the Chinese should be given the opportunity to return to the negotiating table without losing face. The Russians were grateful for UK support over establishing a new Consulate-General in Hong Kong. They hoped to have a small post set up by the end of the year.
They sought (and received) assurances on visa-free access to Hong Kong for Aeroflot crews.
NORTH KOREA
9. The Russian side argued against a decision by the IAEA Board of Governors to refer to the Security Council North Korea's non-compliance with the IAEA Safeguards Agreement. They favoured allowing more time for diplomatic pressure to work, and were thinking of sending representatives to Pyongyang for talks. Sir J Coles underlined the importance of maintaining the integrity of the NPT and of IAEA safeguards. He argued for the steady and measured application of pressure on the North Koreans and urged the Russians to support, the motion for referral to the Security Council.
ASIA PACIFIC SECURITY
10.
Discussion was brief owing to Lack of time. The Lack of a regional forum for security dialogue was noted and there was agreement that the ASEAN PMC might provide a good base on which to build. The Russians still only had guest status at the PMC but they were hoping to become, eventually, a full dialogue partner.
CENTRAL ASIA
11. The Russians expressed their willingness to help the CAS in developing good relations with other states. They were also not against the development of diplomatic links between their Muslim Autonomous Regions and the CAS. But both sides recognised the threat of Islamic Fundamentalism in the CAS while noting that the CAS' relationships with Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were primarily economic, with Islam merely creating a common base for economic integration in the region.
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