TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 217

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6. DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL

THE MINISTERS WELCOMED THE INF TREATY AS A MILESTONE, BEING THE FIRST AGREEMENT BY WHICH THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION HAVE DECIDED TO REDUCE THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENALS. THEY HOPE THAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OTHERS AND WILL THUS BE BENEFICIAL TO OTHER FIELDS OF ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT. PROSPECT OF A START AGREEMENT REDUCING THE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION WAS WELCOMED BY MINISTERS AS SIGNIFICANT ALSO FOR EUROPE AND ASIA.

THE

THE MINISTERS HAD A USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE

REGIONS IN WHICH THEY SHARE INTEREST.

THE MINISTERS AGREED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT ON A CONVENTION TO BAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS WORLDWIDE MUST BE RAPIDLY BROUGHT TO A FULLY SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION. THEY REAFFIRMED THEIR RESOLVE TO SPARE NO EFFORTS TOWARDS REACHING SUCH A GLOBAL AND VERIFIABLE CONVENTION. IN VIEW OF THE ALARMING PROLIFERATION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ELIMINATE THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

7. KAMPUCHEA

THE MINISTERS HAD A THOROUGH EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE KAMPUCHEAN PROBLEM. THEY REAFFIRMED THEIR BELIEF THAT PEACE AND STABILITY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA CAN BE RESTORED ONLY THROUGH THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND OF FOREIGN MILITARY OCCUPATION OF KAMPUCHEA. THEY WELCOMED THE INITIATIVES OF PRINCE SIHANOUK IN THE SEARCH FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF THE PROBLEM. AS THE KAMPUCHEAN CONFLICT IS PRIMARILY A RESULT OF FOREIGN AGGRESSION AND MILITARY OCCUPATION, THE MINISTERS THEREFORE URGED ALL THOSE CONCERNED TO HELP ACCELERATE THE SEARCH FOR A SETTLEMENT AND APPEAL IN PARTICULAR TO VIETNAM TO JOIN PRINCE SIHANOUK IN THE PEACE TALKS. THE MINISTERS REITERATED THEIR RESOLVE TO WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS WHICH AIM AT RESTORING THE INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF KAMPUCHEA CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERESTS AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF KAMPUCHEA WHO HAVE UNDERGONE SO MUCH SUFFERING. A DEMOCRATIC, NEUTRAL AND INDEPENDENT KAMPUCHEA IS NOT ATTAINABLE WITHOUT THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL FOREIGN TROOPS FROM KAMPUCHEA. THE MINISTERS REAFFIRMED THAT NO ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VIETNAM OF SUCH A NATURE AS TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE VIETNAMESE OCCUPATION OF KAMPUCHEA.

THE MINISTERS FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THE PREPONDERANT ROLE OF PRINCE SIHANOUK IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE KAMPUCHEAN PROBLEM WOULD PROMOTE THE VARIOUS INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED: THUS, THE MINISTERS SAW THE NEED TO RENDER ALL POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR PRINCE

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