TNAG-1251-FCO40-1584-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 75

DSP 11C

which are the key to East/West relations over the

•

next year

But no real sign so far that Andropov

will bring much change; recent statements seem

largely designed to win the propaganda war and

to divide the Western Alliance. Direct Indian

contacts are no greater than ours though we are

developing ours on a modest scale this year. How

do you see Andropov, and likely trends within the

Soviet Union and in its foreign policy, eg towards

Is continuity the watchword or do

Afghanistan.

you expect real change?

-

(b) The West has reached agreement on studies of

aspects of East/West economic relations to see if a

common Western approach can be devised. Britain has

played a major part in the process so far - eg Pym

at la Sapinière.

5.

Reagan's

The Middle East remains confused, with a low

point in Arab/Israeli relations reached in last year's

war in the Lebanon. But some recent developments

peace initiative, the Fez Summit declaration, the talks

between King Kussein and Arafat may perhaps provide a

chance of a way forward. We are playing our part, eg in

Sinai peace keeping force, and multinational force in the

Lebanon. Interested in your views on this, and in

particular on the Iran/Iraq war and the risk of its

spreading to theGulf.

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