MUD 345/5
29SEP 199
RESTRICTED
FM BRUSSELS
FICE.
PA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 49
OF 270821Z SEPTEMBER 93
see
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M
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, EC POSTS
19
102713
MDLIAN 9654
11. Mychef's
Sneaky Spanish.. (*)
Let's see what Maitid & HK say?
OBJ
TOP CODY
Q DIST ?
7
X
YOUR TELNO 182 TO MADRID : SPANISH VISA REGIME FOR BDTCS AND BNOS
1.
DHM SPOKE FRIDAY TO LENAERTS, SECRETARY-GENERAL, SCHENGEN SECRETARIAT, WHO REPEATED WHAT HE HAD SAID EARLIER (MY TELNO 431). HE ADDED THAT THE SCHENGEN VISA LIST WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS: LIST A COMPRISING THOSE COUNTRIES ALL OF WHICH REQUIRE VISAS FOR SCHENGEN; LIST B, THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS; AND LIST C, A MIXTURE OF THE TWO. AUSTRALIA AND VENEZUELA FEATURE IN LIST C. HONG KONG, BEING A DEPENDENT TERRITORY, DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY OF THEM.
2. LENAERTS SAID THAT AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE SCHENGEN VISA GROUP SPAIN HAD ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO REIMPOSE A VISA REGIME
IT MADE NO FOR HONG KONG BUT GAVE NO REASON FOR THIS DECISION. MENTION OF ARTICLE 5.2 WHICH, LENAERTS SAID, IN ANY CASE WAS NOT A SERIOUS ARGUMENT. THE SPANISH REPRESENTATIVE ENCOURAGED OTHER SCHENGEN COUNTRIES TO CONSIDER DOING LIKEWISE BUT THE RESPONSE WAS NEGATIVE. GERMANY APPARENTLY POINTED OUT THE STRONG COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES OF NOT/NOT HAVING A VISA REGIME WITH HONG KONG.
3. WHEN PUSHED, LENAERTS SAID HE WAS SURE THERE WAS A POLITICAL REASON BEHIND SPAIN'S ACTION AND THAT THIS MUST BE GIBRALTAR.
COMMENT
4. IN ANY FURTHER TALKS WITH THE SPANIARDS WE SHOULD PERHAPS QUESTION THE RELEVANCE OF ARTICLE 5.2 (A COPY OF WHICH WE ARE FAXING TO THE DEPARTMENT). LENAERTS WOULD NOT/NOT BE PREPARED TO GO ON RECORD OVER THIS CHE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE SPANIARDS EARLIER OVER HIS PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON). GRATEFUL IF HIS CONFIDENCE CAN BE RESPECTED.
GRAY
YYYY
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