CONFIDENTIAL
051
MDLOAN 1800
INCIDENTS IN RECENT WEEKS.
4" AT A PRELIMINARY MEETING OF THE TASK FORCE ON 19 NOVEMBER, (NOT ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN STATES) AUSTRALIA FLOATED THE IDEA THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE SHOULD BE WIDENED TO INCLUDE (AND GIVE AT LEAST EQUAL WEIGHT TO) CONSIDERATION OF THE NAVIGATIONAL AND POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN THE MALACCA STRAITS. THIS IS A POINT REFLECTED IN THE EC ASEAN JOINT DECLARATION OF 30 OCTOBER. THE US AND THE UK SUPPORTED THIS IDEA BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED YET. FORMAL DISCUSSIONS WILL BEGIN IN THE IMO'S MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE FROM 7-18 DECEMBER. WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.
5. (FOR WASHINGTON) IN MARGINAL DISCUSSIONS THE US DELEGATION (JOHN HENNESEY - NYLAND, INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, STATE DEPARTMENT) REPORTED TO US THAT THE IMO HAD ASKED THE US TO PRODUCE A REPORT USING ALL THEIR AVAILABLE SOURCES ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IN THE MALACCA STRAITS. THIS THEY HAVE DONE AND IT HAS SERVED TO ALERT THE US TO THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. PARTICULARLY THE EXTENT TO WHICH INCIDENTS OF PIRACY STILL GO UNREPORTED BECAUSE OF SHIPOWNERS FEARS OF DELAY.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
60
AMD
SEAD
HKD
WED
SPD
UND
NAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
ADDITIONAL
5
DISTRIBUTION
65
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
MR BEAMISH
MR CROWE
MR BONE
MR MASEFIELD
MR BURNS
MR GREENSTOCK
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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