TNAG-2405-FCO40-3492-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1992 — Page 14

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CONFIDENTIAL UK EYES A

ROYAL COLLEGE OF DEFENCE STUDIES OVERSEAS COMPOSITION OF THE 1994 COURSE

Note by DCDS (C)

Introduction

1.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLACES

The regional distribution of overseas places at RCDS for

1994 has been based on the same formula as was used last year.

This distribution of places will almost certainly need to be

adjusted next year, for two reasons. Firstly, the generally

recognised, but as yet

yet ill-defined, requirement to provide

military assistance to the emerging countries of Eastern Europe

is likely to justify an adjustment of allocations in their

favour, particularly if Russia is offered a permanent place from

1995. Secondly, there may be a need for an increase in the number

of floating places to ensure that the system retains sufficient

flexibility to respond to the ever changing environment and to

ensure that deserving cases do not lose out purely on grounds of

an over-subscribed regional allocation.

2.

To assist in planning, it is proposed from next year to look

in outline at possible allocations two or three years ahead. The

aim would be to help achieve better overall prioritisation and

balance and avoid situations where places are offered to

countries simply because they have identified a good candidate,

possibly denying those more deserving in defence or foreign

policy terms.

CONFIDENTIAL UK EYES A