CONFIDENTIAL
of the Coreu telegram despatched by the Human Rights side of the German Foreign Ministry on the subject on 17 February.
16. Zeller gave a discursive description of a conversation with the Indonesian Foreign Minister (encountered during a trip to Malaysia and Singapore) about his recent visit to Moscow. This added nothing to the accounts already available in reporting telegrams.
EC/VIETNAM
17. The Presidency helpfully suggested that the question was not urgent and could be safely left until after the EC- ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Dusseldorf. There was no disposition to challenge this view. The Commission said that the question was under discussion in the community framework but were promptly reminded by Zeller that the political aspects were an appropriate subject for political cooperation.
VIETNAM
18.
The Presidency suggested that it might be appropriate for the Twelve to react positively to the recent release of a further large batch of political prisoners by the Vietnamese Government. Ambassadors in Hanoi could be instructed to say that this action had been "evaluated positively". I said I would wish to reflect on this suggestion. Zeller undertook to consult further by Coreu.
REFUGEES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
19. After explaining my intentions privately to the Presidency, I spoke on the lines suggested in the brief, emphasising that we were concerned both about the rising number of people who could not be resettled and about the possible breakdown of the principle of first asylum. the Presidency said that all partners were aware that the subject was complex and had both humanitarian and political aspects. There was a need for reflection and discussion in capitals. The matter could then be considered in a more constructive way at the next AWG.
(Comment: We should keep the Presidency up to the mark and consider preparing the ground for a more useful discussion by circulating a paper beforehand.)
KOREA
20. A tour de table showed that all EC countries would be represented at the President's inauguration by Ambassadors (resident or non-resident), except for ourselves (Lord
/ Glenarthur
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.