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103765 MDHIAN 4430
6. WE SHOULD TAKE WITH A LARGE PINCH OF SALT ANY PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT PRESIDENT SOARES ALONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VISIT GOING AHEAD. THE GOVERNMENT APPEAR TO HAVE DONE NOTHING
AT ALL TO DISSUADE SOARES AND PRIME MINISTER CAVACO SILVA IS NOW FULLY INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAMME. MFA OFFICIALS ARE CLEARLY SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSED BUT HAVE SIMPLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION-TAKING PROCESS.
7.
EVEN THOUGH NO OFFICIAL INVITATION HAS BEEN ISSUED, JIANG ZEMIN'S RECEPTION AND TREATMENT IN LISBON WILL BE, ON THE ABOVE EVIDENCE, INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM AN OFFICIAL VISIT. I CONCLUDE THAT THE PORTUGUESE HAVE CALCULATED THAT FOSTERING GOOD BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EU SOLIDARITY IN
THIS INSTANCE.
MACAN
YYYY
MAIN
48
FED
HKD
ECD (E)
NEWS D
UND
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
48
LEGAL ADVISERS
SED
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
2
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