TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 108

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5. THE PRESIDENCY THEN TURNED TO SCHEER, WHO SAID THAT IN THE

ABSENCE OF THE COMMISSION EXPERTS' REPORTS HE COULD NOT TAKE A

POSITION. THE COMMISSION THEREUPON CIRCULATED THE ARTICLE 31

EXPERTS' REPORT AND THE REPORT OF THE 21 MAY EXPERTS' MEETING.

SCHEER NOTED THAT BOTH OF THESE PERMITTED A VALUE OF 1,000 BQ/KG.

FOR FRANCE SUCH A VALUE ALREADY MARKED A CONSIDERABLE COMPROMISE.

THERE WAS NO REASON WHY PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC OPINION IN OTHER MEMBER

STATES SHOULD LEAD FRANCE TO MOVE, PARTICULARLY AS SHE HAD PUBLIC

OPINION PROBLEMS OF HER OWN.

6.

LYMBEROPOULOS (GREECE) SAID THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS HAD BEEN TIGHTENED SINCE HE HAD INDICATED READINESS TO MOVE YESTERDAY. HIS

AUTHORITIES TOO NOW WANTED A FIGURE OF 1,000 BQ/KG.

7. THERE ENSUED YET ANOTHER DISCUSSION IN WHICH A NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS, NOTABLY THE ITALIANS, ATTEMPTED TO PICK HOLES IN THE EXPERTS' REPORTS. I FINALLY SAID THAT IT WOULD DO NO GOOD AT ALL FOR THE CONDUCT OF COMMUNITY BUSINESS FOR COREPER TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF CHALLENGING EXPERTS ON THEIR OWN GROUND.

8.. RUTTEN THEN SUMMED UP THAT 10 MEMBER STATES COULD EITHER ACCEPT THE PRESIDENCY COMPROMISE OR WERE ABLE TO MOVE TOWARDS IT IN THE INTERESTS OF A CONSENSUS. HE REMINDED US AGAIN OF THE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE TO AGREE THIS WEEK. THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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