TNAG-2090-FCO40-2975-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 246

RESTRICTED

005720 MDHAN 3959

YEARS OF THE UNS EXISTENCE IT UNDERTOOK 13 SUCH OPERATIONS. SINCE 1988 ALONG THERE HAVE BEEN 12 AN EXPONENTIAL RATE OF GROWTH. THE UK HAS UNDERTAKEN NEW COMMITMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA AND CAMBODIA IN RECENT MONTHS, TO HIGHLIGHT BUT TWO.

-

-

AT THE SAME TIME, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DEFENCE OBLIGATION, THAT OF ASSISTING FORMER ADVERSARIES TO PLACE THE CONTROL OF THEIR DEFENCE IN A DEMOCRATIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL SETTING WILL, RIGHTLY, CALL FOR A NEW TACTFUL INVESTMENT OF INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCE BY WESTERN DEFENCE AUTHORITIES. WE ARE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH COUNTRIES SUCH AS POLAND AND BULGARIA, THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE WELCOMED THE UKS OFFER OF HELP, NEXT WEEK SEES LONDON HOST TO A MAJOR SEMINAR ON DEFENCE IN DEMOCRACY WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CENTRAL AND

EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THE REPUBLICS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENTDENT STATES. I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO THEM MYSELF.

WESTERN EUROPEAN SECURITY

LET ME LOOK AHEAD NOW AND FOCUS UPON THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WE SHALL SHARE IN NATO AND THE FUTURE EUROPEAN UNION.

THE INTENSE, MONOLITHIC THREAT TO OUR SECURITY OF THE COLD WAR OPOCH IS BEING REPLACED BY NEW, MORE COMPLEX RISKS.

AT A TIME OF CHANGE AND UNPREDICTABILITY, EUROPE WILL BE WISE TO SUSTAIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS ABOVE ALL NATO WHICH FIRMLY ENGAGES

-

NORTH AMERICA IN COLLECTIVE WESTERN SECURITY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT WILL BE RIGHT ALSO FOR EUROPEAN PARTNERS TO PLAY A PROPORTIONATELY GREATER PART IN SECURING OUR OWN DEFENCE.

NATO

LET ME BEGIN WITH CHANGES IN NATO. WHAT IS MOST STRIKING TO ME IS

THE VIGOUR AND VITALITY SHOWN BY NATO IN ADAPTING ITSELF TO CHANGED

CIRCUMSTANCES OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR THERE WERE MANY WHO PREDICTED AN END TO NATO SEMI COL OR WHO CLAIMED THAT ITS INTEGRATED MILITARY STRUCTURE NO LONGER HAD A RAISON D ETRE. INSTEAD, THANKS TO A PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE, INVOLVING ALL THE ALLIANCE MEMBERS, NATOS POLICIES AND STRATEGY HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY OVERHAULED.

*

THE ROME NATO SUMMIT LAST NOVEMBER SAW THE COMPLETION OF THE

2

PAGE

RESTRICTED