TNAG-2030-FCO40-2892-Gulf-crisis-sharing-the-financial-burden-possible-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 21

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FM SINGAPORE

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 487

OF 18033OZ OCTOBER 90

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нивого 127

152472 MDHIAN 4725

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INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, AMMAN, BRUNEI INFO ROUTINE MANILA, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, CAIRO

(A

MY TELNO 440: GULF CRISIS, BURDEN SHARING, SINGAPORE

SUMMARY

1. SINGAPORE AND BRUNEI SEND TWO C130 AIRCRAFT TO DELIVER MEDICAL AND

RELIEF SUPPLIES TO JORDAN AND EVACUATE SRI LANKAN REFUGEES.

DETAIL

2. TWO SINGAPORE AIR FORCE C130 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT LEFT HERE FOR

JORDAN YESTERDAY TO DELIVER MEDICAL AND RELIEF SUPPLIES AND EVACUATE SOME 140 SRI LANKANS. THE MISSION IS OFFICIALLY BEING DESCRIBED AS A JOINT RESPNSE BY SINGAPORE AND BRUNEI TO RECENT APPEALS FOR HELP: ALTHOUGH THE AIRCRAFT AND CREW ARE SINGAPOREAN, BRUNEI IS SAID TO HAVE MET PART OF THE COST.

COMMENT

3. THE SINGAPOREANS WERE UNDER PRESSURE FROM BOTH THE AMERICANS AND

OURSELVES TO PROVIDE SOME PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE GULF EFFORT TO BACK UP THEIR FIRM POLITICAL POSITION ON THE IRAQI INVASION. THE

DESPATCH OF TWO C130'S IS A PREDICATBLY LOW KEY RESPONSE: IT IS BEING PRESENTED HERE AS A HUMANITARIAN MISSION AND THE SINGAPOREANS HAVE

BEEN CAREFUL TO INVOLVE THE BRUNEIANS.

4. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN RUMOURS HERE THAT THE SINGAPOREANS INTENDED

TO DESPATCH A MEDICAL TEAM TO JORDAN. THIS NOW LOOKS LESS LIKELY IN

MISSION.

THE LIGHT OF THE C130

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