CODE 18-77
Miss Major
HKD
WH 305
Reference
GVA 349/3
Kor.
موجة
HKC345.
STRY
3 1 JUL 1990
cc: Ms Jennison
WED, W 129
Ms Hopkins NTD, CL 511
Mr R Ritchie
Mr Henderson
B1, HO Passport
Dept, CL 236
Mr Rankin - Legal
Advisers
-
K 174
29
ANGLO-AUSTRIAN VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT
1.
The Austrian Embassy in London has been pressing since last July for a re-negotiation of the existing VAA between the two Governments. We sent the Embassy a holding reply but they have now returned to the charge with a second Note Verbale in which they ask specifically whether British National (Overseas) passports and British Dependent Territory citizen passports can be considered as falling under paragraph 6 of the said exchange of notes. They also request news on a revision of the existing VAA. With such specific questions, the Austrians have left us little room for manoeuvre and I therefore consider that we must come clean and subject to the views of the recipients of this minute, I propose to reply to the Austrians as per the attached draft Note.
2.
A gentleman's agreement has existed with the Austrians since 1984 based on a verbal assurance at the time that BDTCs were returnable to the United Kingdom under Article 6 of the VAA under which the holders of such passports were exempted from the visa requirements for entry to Austria. Since 1984 the Austrians have attempted to get written confirmation of the verbal assurances given to them. These have never been forthcoming and as we have recently done with the Argentine and GDR Governments, we will now have to spell out those holders of British passports who are entitled to re-admission to the United Kingdom.
In
3. I would be grateful to receive comments by close of play 8 August so that I can reply to the Austrians' latest Note. due course I will draft a new VAA and likewise seek comments.
30 July 1990
that
J F Thompson
Migration and Visa Department
(CL 420
270 4031)
No comments.
(30.
JT3AAH
MVD have telegraphed HKC.
ра
hu
3117
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.