TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 217

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX B

ΝΑΤΟ

1. The evident importance of our major NATO partners (France,

Germany and the US) makes Ministerial contact with these countries

of the highest priority. However, in practice opportunities for

this arise regularly through the 6-monthly meetings of the DPC

and NPG (excluding France) and (excluding US) through the Euro-

group, IEPG and, most recently, the WEU. The Secretary of State

also, in general, attends the summits with France and Germany

where he has the opportunity to meet his opposite numbers from

these countries. With one exception, we have not, therefore,

included any specific recommendations for these countries.

2. The upturn in contacts with the French Defence Minister

which was noted in 1983 has not been maintained and, apart from

meetings to discuss specific problems over EFA, there was only

one bilateral meeting (at the Summit) in 1984. High level con-

tacts have a prima facie importance in view of the coincidence

of our interests (European nuclear powers, out of area capabili-

ties, collaborative projects and space), and their value has been

reinforced by the recent summit in Paris. For these reasons it

would be valuable to arrange a meeting with M Hernu during the

course of this year, although this could be an inward visit in

view of the other demands on the Secretary of State's time; the

timing would need to be carefully considered in relation to EFA

developments and French pre-occupations with 1986 legislative

elections from the latter end of the year.

3. Italy's sensitivity over exclusion from the tri-lateral

arrangements seems to have been assuaged though she still resents

any implied devaluation of her importance as a partner. There

were several meetings at Defence Minister level in 1984 (Anglo- Italian Summit, Spaldolini's visit to Farnborough and NPG in Stresa)

B

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CONFIDENTIAL