RESTRICTED
FM LISBON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 121
OF 271730Z FEBRUARY 91
RESTRICTED
Hncorofi..
p.a.
масам
(para 5)
CS2812
AND TO PRIORITY OTHER NATO POSTS, DUBLIN, UKREP BRUSSELS
18
110322 MDLIAN 1682
FRAME GENERAL
1.
(MY
IN WELCOMING THE PROSPECT OF MORE INTENSE CONTACT BETWEEN THE UK AND PORTUGAL AS 1992 APPROACHED, PINHEIRO THOUGHT THERE WAS A CASE FOR SEMINARS AT DIRECTOR GENERAL AS WELL AS MINISTERIAL LEVEL
TELNO 116). HE SEEMS TO BE CONFLATING TWO IDEAS:
A) MR GAREL-JONES' SUGGESTION FOR A MINISTERIAL MEETING AT
CHEVENING.
AS INSTRUCTED IN CHILCOTT'S LETTER TO BUCK OF 31 JANUARY I WROTE TO THE S OF S FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, VITOR MARTINS, TO PROPOSE THAT THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE AUTUMN. MARTINS HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PORTUGUESE WOULD PREFER JUNE/JULY BECAUSE THEY WILL BY THEN HAVE READY A PAPER THEY ARE WRITING ON THEIR PRESIDENCY WHICH THEY WISH TO DISCUSS WITH US. THERE IS ALSO THE COMPLICATION THAT THE PORTUGUESE ELECTIONS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE IN OCTOBER. NEVERTHELESS, MARTINS TOLD ME THAT IF WE COULD NOT MANAGE OTHER DATES, HE COULD PROBABLY AGREE TO SEPTEMBER. GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF, AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, LATE JUNE/EARLY JULY WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR MR GAREL-JONES.
B) A PORTUGUESE WISH, FIRST PUT FORWARD BY MARTINS TO MR MAUDE IN NOVEMBER 1989 IN LONDON, THAT THERE SHOULD BE SEMINARS BETWEEN SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRIES CONCERNED ON PARTICULAR SUBJECTS EG AGRICULTURE, TRANSPORT ETC IN ORDER TO START PREPARING PRESIDENCY DOSSIERS. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO TAKE THE PORTUGUESE UP ON THIS. IF YOU AGREE, I RECOMMEND YOU INSTRUCT THIS EMBASSY TO FIND OUT FROM THE PORTUGUESE WHICH AREAS INTEREST THEM, TO LET THEM KNOW OF ANY WHICH INTEREST US AND TO SUGGEST AN OUTLINE PROGRAMME. FORTHCOMING VISITS BY OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS WHITEHALL DEPARTMENTS WILL ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE THIS.
2. DURING THE SAME PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PRESIDENCIES, THE PORTUGUESE POLITICAL DIRECTOR REFERRED TO CONTACTS ON HIS SIDE, PARTICULARLY GREENSTOCK'S VISIT. I RECOMMEND THIS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP BY AN INVITATION TO EITHER RIBEIRO DE MENEZES HIMSELF FOR TALKS WITH WESTON OR TO CAIMOTO DUARTE WITH GREENSTOCK,
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.