TNAG-1260-FCO40-1600-Briefings-for-Ministers-and-FCO-officials-on-the-future-of-H-1983 — Page 46

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CAP, together with measures for particular commodities

such as guarantee thresholds and price restraint, and

seek German support for the financial guidelines in the

next stage of the negotiations.

3. On defence (Brief No

•

It

), Kohl will be aware of the

recent 'Times' leaders suggesting that we reduce BAOR.

will therefore be more than a proforma courtesy on this

occasion to re-affirm the Government's commitment to the.

maintenance of BAOR at 55,000 (our Brussels Treaty

obligation).

But our main objective on defence should be

to steady Chancellor Kohl's nerve on INF. The Prime

Minister will find Kohl preoccupied by this issue

(Brief No

problems).

analyses his current domestic political

4.

On the Law of the Sea Convention (UNCOSC), the Prime

Minister will wish to repeat briefly our strong hope that

the German Government will not sign the Convention in its

present form.

GERMAN OBJECTIVES

5.

C

Since Kohl came to power, he has tended, in

discussion with the Prime Minister, to raise some

-

༣་

completely unexpected topics of lesser importance.

!

We

cannot predict what he might raise this time. It is

possible (but unlikely) that he will mention again Non

Combatant Evacuation (see Brief No

Prime Minister can reassure him that the programme has

been postponed indefinitely.

...). If he does the

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/6.