75
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BERNE
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 153
OF 01075OZ SEPTEMBER 88
AND TO PRIORITY HOME OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243
24.3/7 PHAKS
VISIT OF HOME SECRETARY TO BERNE, 12/13 SEPTEMBER
INTRODUCTION
031533 MOLIAN 3570
1. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND VISIT BY A BRITISH CABINET MINISTER TO SWITZERLAND THIS YEAR, AND THE FIRST BY A BRITISH HOME SECRETARY OF WHICH WE HERE ARE AWARE. SINCE HER SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO LONDON IN
MARCH 1987, FRAU KOPP HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN HER GRASP OF HER DIFFICULT AND WIDE PORTFOLIO. BRITISH AND PROBABLE SWISS OBJECTIVES FROM THE VISIT OUTLINED. AN OLD SCANDAL OVER ALLEGED LARGE-SCALE TAX EVASION BY HER HUSBAND, A PROSPEROUS ZURICH LAWYER, HAS JUST RESURFACED AND THIS MAY WEAKEN HER POSITION, UNLESS IT IS QUICKLY
SCOTCHED.
DETAIL
2. ON IMMIGRATION, FRAU KOPP WON SUPPORT LAST YEAR FOR THE REVISION OF LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THE SPEEDIER AND STRICTER PROCESSING OF A SYLUM APPLICATONS. BUT LOBBYING FROM THE CHURCHES AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN GROUPS AGAINST THE REPATRIATION OF REJECTED APPLICANTS HAS INHIBITED USE OF THIS APPROACH IN PRACTICE. IN THIS SENSITIVE
AREA FRAU KOPP IS EXPOSED TO COMPETING EXTREMIST PRESSURES.
3. IN COUNTER-TERRORISM, THE SWISS CONTINUE TO BE ROBUST IN PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND BEHIND THE SCENES. BUT THEY SHY AWAY FROM PUBLIC GESTURES OR STATEMENTS ON THE SUBJECT. A RECENT US GOVERNMENT REPORT
ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM INCLUDED CRITICISM OF THE SWISS REFUSAL TO
EXTRADITE HASSAN DIB TO FRANCE IN 1987 (ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE CHARGES WERE NOT PUNISHABLE IN SWITZERLAND) AND THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR, MALA EK (BERNE TELNO 78 TO FCO). SINCE THE F CO/HOME OFFICE OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS IN BERNE ON COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM IN MARCH 1987, THERE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT CLOSER POLICY COORDINATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND POLICE AND
THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. BUT SWISS BUREAUCRACY
REMAINS COMPARTMENTALISED IN THIS FIELD.
4. ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, SOME BILATERAL PROBLEMS PERSIST. SOME
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