TNAG-2801-FCO40-4041-Hong-Kong-six-monthly-meetings-of-foreign-ministers-1993 — Page 38

Assistants in:

AD (E) AD (S)

NAD

RID

CED

SAD

EAU

SEAD

Eastern Dept

SED

FED

SPD

LAD

WED

MED

WIAD

Reference.

unga48.12.8

CODE 18-77

NENAD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO UNGA 48: TRAWL OF DEPARTMENTS' VIEWS ON POSSIBLE BILATERALS

1.

I attach a list of bilaterals which the Secretary of State held at UNGA 47, and a list of requests for bilaterals we have received so far for UNGA 48.

2. Last year, the Secretary of State spent three extra days at UNGA to carry out extra work arising from his responsibilities as EC President. We consequently planned on 20 bilaterals (5 more than usual). In practice, it has proved hard to keep to these limits. In the event, there were 25 bilaterals last year.

3. I would be grateful if Departments responsible for countries who have already requested bilaterals (NENAD, LAD, WED, SED, MED, FED) could let me know their views on the requests received so far. In this context, I would be grateful for views on Mexico City telno 248, strongly recommending that we should accept the Mexican request, Valletta telno 87 suggesting that the Maltese request no longer has high priority, and Mr Battiscombe's teleletter to Sir Michael Burton of 7 August supporting the Algerian request.

4. I would be grateful if all Departments could consider bilaterals which we might like to initiate. It is usual for the Secretary of State to hold bilaterals with his P5 colleagues, though this can be flexible: last year we had no bilaterals with the French. In putting forward suggestions, I appeal for bids for essential meetings only. There will undoubtedly be further requests in the run-up to UNGA which we shall have to consider.

5. We are aiming to submit an initial list of bilaterals to the Secretary of State at the end of this month to allow time for UKMis New York to begin setting up the arrangements. Accordingly, I would be grateful for your views by close of play on Friday 20 August. Nil returns would be helpful.

заянчим

DJ McIver

United Nations Dept

K 154

270 3521

13 August 1993

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