TNAG-2182-FCO40-3119-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 181

$

RESTRICTED

were developing. The following week (18 June) would see the

establishment of a new ferry link to Estonia. This would be

run by a private company. HM Ambassador asked what effect President Landsbergis' efforts were having on the other

Soviet Republics. Mr Schori said that Landsbergis did not

think in those terms at all. He had a simple goal and was

going for it. He was not a sophisticated operator.

4. Mr Schori went on to say that the Swedish Government had to take the uncertainty over the future of the Baltic Republics and the new tone in the debate on Europe into consideration when considering Swedish foreign policy.

There was much popular sympathy in Sweden for independence

for the Baltics. But a couple of years were needed to see

how things developed.

European Community/European Economic Space

5. Turning to the EC, Mr Schori wondered if the Community would take a greater responsibility for security. Mr Maude

thought that there was no chance of that happening that

decade. There was no defence element to the EC. Arrangements could change within the political co-operation machinery to allow the twelve Foreign Ministers, if they so chose, to discuss security questions. This was already happening to a certain extent in POCO where the economic aspects of security were sometimes discussed. But there

could be no replacement of NATO by the EC. NATO had to change and adapt to the developing situation in Europe. was likely that NATO would become a more political body.

The old role of defence against the East was no longer as relevant. But it was important that United States engagement in Europe remained. Expansion of NATO to include the new Germany and a possible greater involvement by France would perhaps dilute American influence. The United States might then need convincing that it was worth their while to

remain in Europe. The stability of the past

It

P12AAC/3

RESTRICTED