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GRS 858A
SYPHER CAT A
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HKK 184/1
RACEIVED ORGISERY MO. 51
4078
P COPENHAGEN 2916512
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 328 OF 29 SEPTEMBER
INDEX
INFO OSLO, STOCKHOLM AND HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR BCARFE)
OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY
Action Teken
YOUR TELNO 197 OF 10 AUGUST : NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW
UK/SCANDINAVIAN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT
See 1.556
1. THE THIRD ROUND OF TALKS FOR NEW AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS COMMEN-
CED HERE ON 25 SEPTEMBER, AS BEFORE THE DELEGATIONS WERE LED BY ROGERS (DEPARTMENT OF TRADE) AND BOGH (NORWEGIAN MFA).
2. DURING THE WEEK BEFORE THE TALKS BEGAN THERE HAD BEEN A SERIES OF ARTICLES IN BOERSEN (THE DANISH EQUIVALENT OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES) WHICH WERE EXTREMELY CRITICAL OF THE DANISH
GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THESE MATTERS AND IN PARTICULAR OF THE DECISION TO DENOUNCE THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING THE DANISH CHARTER COMPANIES WHOSE INTERESTS ARE AFFECTED. THE DANISH CHARTER COMPANIES RENEWED PREVIOUS REQUESTS TO DE REPRESENTED AT THIS WEEK'S TALKS WHICH THE DANISH GOVERNMENT
REFUSED. OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME POLITICAL CAPITAL FROM THE SITUATION AND HAVE ASKED FOR DISCUSSIONS IN THE
FOLKETING TRANSPORT COMMITTEE.
3. PRESUMABLY AS A RESULT OF THIS, AT THE OPENING SESSION BOGH
LAUNCHED OUT INTO A FURTHER LENGTHY ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THE
SCANDINAVIAN GOVERNMENTS' DECISION TO DENOUNCE THESE AGREEMENTS.
ROGERS REDUTTED THIS ON MUCH THE SAME LINES AS BEFORE, AND FOINTED
CUT THAT THE AGREED RECORD OF THE MEETING IN OSLO LAST NOVEMBER
INCLUDED AN UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH SIDES WOULD MEET AGAIN IN
JANUARY TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES" AN UNDERSTANDING
WHICH THE SCANDINAVIANS HAD FAILED TO IMPLEMENT AS A RESULT OF
THEIR DENUNCIATION IN DECEMBER 1977. THE AGREED RECORD HAD ALSO
MADE PLAIN OUR INTENTION OF BRINGING CHARTERS WITHIN THE AMBIT
OF ANY GENERAL REVIEW.
4. DESPITE THIS UNPROMISING START, SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
ON THE ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
5. AS REGARDS
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