TNAG-1790-FCO40-2550-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1988 — Page 82

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ARE DUE TO THE OVERLOAD ON INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATES AT THE CANTONAL

LEVEL (PARTICULARLY IN GENEVA). HERE WE CANNOT CLAIM PRIORITY TREATMENT, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SIGNATORIES OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION.

OTHERS ARISE FROM FAILURE OF CERTAIN PROSECUTING OR INVESTIGATING AUTHORITIES IN THE UK TO ADHERE CLOSELY TO STANDARD SWISS PROCEDURES.

THE LATTER PROBLEM HAS ALSO AFFECTED SOME LEGAL ASSISTANCE

APPLICATIONS FROM HONG KONG.

5. THE PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ON THE CONFISCATION OF ASSETS

ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN HELD UP IN

THE COMPLEX SWISS BUREAUCRACY. THE EARLIEST REALISTIC ESTIMATE AT

DESK LEVEL IN FRAU KOPP'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE EXCHANGE IS NOW JANUARY

1989. THE SWISS WOULD BE HAPPY FOR SIGNATURE TO TAKE PLACE IN LONDON.

BUT SWISS OFFICIALS HOPE SHORTLY TO HAVE FRAU KOPP'S AGREEMENT TO MR

HURD TELLING JOURNALISTS AT THE END OF HIS VISIT OF THEIR RENEWED

COMMITMENT TO COOPERATION IN THIS AREA AND THE DESIRABILITY OF EXCHANGING LETTERS SOON.

6. AS SEEN FROM HERE UK OBJECTIVES FROM THE VISIT INCLUDE THE

FOLLOWING:

(A) TO CONFIRM THE UK AS A NATURAL PARTNER WITH WHOM THE SWISS WILL

READILY CONSULT ON A WIDE RANGE OF SENSITIVE ISSUES.

(B) TO DEEPEN ANGLO-SWISS COOPERATION ON THE FIGHT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS.

(C) TO REASSURE THE SWISS THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO IMPROVE

MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROCEDURES (BETTER PRESENTED REQUESTS: OUR

INTENTION TO SIGN THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION). IN RETURN TO PRESS FOR

SPEEDY PROCESSING ON THE SWISS SIDE.

(D) TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON REFUGEE QUESTIONS AND TO URGE FURTHER SWISS

CONSIDERATION FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.

(E) TO INSTILL URGENCY INTO THE PREPARATION OF THE EXCHANGE OF

LETTERS ON DRUG TRAFFICKING.

7. MRS KOPP'S MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE LIKELY TO BE:

(A) TO EMPHASISE SWISS WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IN COMBATTING INTERNATIONAL CRIME (DRUGS, TERRORISM, MONEY-LAUNDERING).

(B) TO SEEK CLOSER BUT STILL INFORMAL CONTACTS WITH EC INSTITUTIONS

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