ра
59
CONFIDENTIAL
015306
HUD 243/8
MDLIAN 4951
25 MAR 88
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BONN
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 273
OF 24100OZ MARCH 88
PA
Acti
BANGKOK
INFO PRIORITY ALL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY POSTS, KUALA LUMPUR, INFO PRIORITY SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, MANILA, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
INFO PRIORITY CANBERRA
POLITICAL COMMITTEE, 23/24 MARCH: EC-ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING
1. VON RICHTHOFEN
(PRESIDENCY) SAID THE GERMANS HOPED TO HAVE A
REACTION FROM THE ASEAN SIDE TO THEIR PROPOSALS ON THE AGENDA AND
THE DRAFTS OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COMPONENTS OF THE JOINT
DECLARATION BEFORE EASTER. HE CONFIRMED THE PRESIDENCY'S INTENTION
TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ASIA WORKING GROUP ON 18 APRIL TO
FINALISE THE POLITICAL ELEMENT. RATFORD (UK) SAID THE AGENDA WAS
VERY LONG. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO FOCUS IT MORE ON SUBJECTS OF
PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE ASEANS, SUCH AS CAMBODIA, THE ROLE OF THE SOVIET UNION IN THE REGION, REFUGEES AND NARCOTICS. IT WOULD ALSO BE
SENSIBLE TO FOLLOW PREVIOUS PRACTICE IN SHARING THE LEAD ON VARIOUS
TOPICS AMONG MINISTERS. VON RICHTHOFEN SAID THESE POINTS WERE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH GERMAN THINKING, ALTHOUGH HE APPEARED TO WANT EVERY ITEM ON THE PRESENT AGENDA TO BE COVERED, IF NECESSARY ONLY BRIEFLY.
•
2. NOIVILLE (FRANCE) REFERRED TO A PRESIDENCY COREU OF 22 MARCH
WHICH APPARENTLY DEALT WITH INVITATIONS TO AMBASSADORS OF CERTAIN
COUNTRIES (US, JAPAN, ETC) TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME CAPACITY ΝΟ DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE BECAUSE OTHERS AT THE TABLE WERE UNSIGHTED
BUT THE PRESIDENCY PLAINLY CONSIDER THEY ARE DOING NO MORE THAN
FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PRACTICE.
MALLABY
YYYY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.