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P. Ein
Pommie HE
Copy for CK 1186/4
42263 2
GRS 525
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FM F C O 311600Z AUG 84
TO PRIORITY CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 085 OF 31 AUGUST 1984
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOOTING DOWN OF THE KAL AIRLINER
1.
THERE MAY BE RENEWED INTEREST IN THE SHOOTING DOWN OF THE KAL 747 ON THE ANNIVERSARY (1 SEPTEMBER 1984).
2.
YOU SHOULD AT YOUR DISCRETION DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN RESPONSE TO ANY ENQUIRIES. YOU SHOULD NOT, HOWEVER, ATTEMPT TO ANSWER DETAILED POINTS ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS. ANY JOURNALIST WHO WISHES TO GO INTO SUCH DETAIL SHOULD BE REFERRED TO NEWS DEPARTMENT (EG THROUGH HIS LONDON CORRESPONDENT).
LINE TO TAKE
WE
3. WE MADE CLEAR AT THE TIME THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRLINER WAS A DISGRACEFUL BREACH OF THE SOVIET UNION'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN RESPECT OF AIR SAFETY AND ALL NORMAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. SIR G HOWE RAISED THE MATTER DIRECTLY WITH MR GROMYKO WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE INCIDENT. IMPOSED, TOGETHER WITH A MAJORITY OF OUR ALLIES, A 14 DAY BAN ON CIVIL FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE UK AND THE SOVIET UNION AND ON SOVIET OVERFLIGHTS OF UK TERRITORY. THIS WAS A CLEAR MESSAGE OF CONDEMNATION TO THE SOVIET LEADERSHIP. BEYOND THIS, THE FOREMOST PRIORITY WAS TO ENSURE THAT THERE COULD BE NO RECURRENCE OF THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT.
BACKGROUND
4.
THE UK HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ICAO.
LAST YEAR WE CO-SPONSORED
A RESOLUTION WHICH INITIATED AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY
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