TNAG-1790-FCO40-2550-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1988 — Page 144

A. 4

CONFIDEN FIAL

Nuclear Testing

What chance of verifying Threshold Test Ban and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaties within this Administration's lifetime ?

- Next step after ratification ?

(b) Conventional

Any shift in Soviet thinking on dual capability ?

Genuine interest in concluding CSCE Review Meeting by the summer ? Serious about early launch of Conventional Stability Talks ?

Important that the West agrees its own position

(c) Chemical Weapons

Any advance on CW at Summit ?

Welcome bilateral activity in support of Western objectives. Cannot all be done in multilateral forum

We will provide assessment of Porton Down/Shikhany exchange

(a) UNSSD III

After failure of UNSSD II, NNA may be more realistic this time. But still largely a damage limitation exercise. Expect Soviets to play to gallery

Afghanistan

Welcome readout of any Summit discussions

in particular

(a) any Soviet commitments on withdrawal timetable (b) Soviet views on survivability of regime and on

any UN-sponsored discussions (Cordovez) leading to regime's replacement

(c) Soviet fears about instability on southern border

after departure

(d) Soviet intentions regarding aid programme

CONFIDENTIAL

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