TNAG-2693-FCO40-3896-Meetings-and-calls-on-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-fo-1993 — Page 62

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6.

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British

Dr McLaren said that she felt that British firms were not as

visible in the FSU as, for example, those of Germany and the USA, -: whose companies were engaged in a number of successful joint

schemes with Russian industries. Mrs Leslie said that there were some prominent examples of activity from British firms Gas and BP, for example. Discoveries of oil and gas by the

latter firm had been an important factor behind HMG's decision to open a mission in Azerbaijan. Mr Bone said that HMG did what it could to encourage British industry, but that there was a limit

to the British Government's proper role.

7. Sir Michael Atiyah asked about progress in the establishment

of the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC). Mr

Bone said that the Centre had now been set up, and should start its work soon. It was a pity that Dr Williams, the Director of

the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, had not been selected to the

ISTC's Scientific Advisory Committee.

8. Mr Elam said that cultural agreements had been in place for

at least two years with all countries of Eastern Europe. Such

agreements were not yet established with the new countries of the

FSU HMG was looking to establish them in due course. As fears based on security considerations gradually evaporated, conventional exchange activities were gradually gathering pace

with scientists in the FSU. Post-doctoral collaborative

research programmes in Hungary provided a model for the schemes which were developing. The relationship between Central and Eastern European countries and the EEC was thickening: Poland,

Hungary and Czechoslovakia had all signed Association Agreements

in December 1991. On relations with the FSU, Mr Elam noted that

the Britain/Russia Centre was carrying out a review of its

objectives and priorities. It was shortly to take on a new

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