RESTRICTED
FM DUBLIN
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 072
OF 141315Z FEBRUARY 92
INFO IMMEDIATE NIO(L), NIO(B), UKREP BRUSSELS
CALL ON NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
SUMMARY
1. INTRODUCTORY CALL ON THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO STRESSES HIS OPEN MIND ON NORTHERN IRELAND AND WISH FOR CONTINUITY. BRIEF DISCUSSION OF LIBYA/LOCKERBIE.
DETAIL
2. I CALLED ON THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER THIS MORNING. I SAID THAT I KNEW YOU AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY WERE LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO MEETING HIM, AND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WAS EAGER TO RENEW HIS ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE TAOISEACH. ANDREWS SAID HE WAS PLEASED YOU HAD ARRANGED TO MEET IN LISBON NEXT WEEK. HE ALSO HOPED AN INFORMAL MEETING MIGHT BE ARRANGED VERY SOON WITH MR BROOKE, IN ADVANCE OF AN IGC OR A PRIME MINISTER/ TAOISEACH MEETING, SO THAT THEY COULD GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
3. ON NORTHERN IRELAND, ANDREWS SAID THAT HE WOULD SEEK TO PURSUE MUCH THE SAME LINE AS HIS PREDECESSOR: THERE WOULD BE CONTINUITY . HIS OWN SPECIAL INTEREST WAS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES, TO WHICH HE WOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION (I SAID HE WOULD FIND HMG JUST AS CONCERNED OVER HUMAN RIGHTS AS WAS HE). HE CAME WITH AN OPEN MIND, AND NO PREJUDICES.
4. HE CONFIRMED THAT, AS INDICATED IN RECENT RADIO INTERVIEWS, SECURITY WAS AT THE TOP OF HIS CONCERNS, TOGETHER WITH THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND THE LOWERING OF TENSION. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT SECURITY CO-OPERATION WAS GOOD. I SAID THAT IT WAS, THOUGH IT COULD ALWAYS BE BETTER: ASKED FOR EXAMPLES, I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENION OUR WISH FOR DIRECT ARMY TO ARMY COMMUNICATIONS, NOT LEAST TO AVERT POSSIBLE TRAGIC MISTAKES, AND TO REFER TO THE OTHER POINTS WHICH THE PRIME MINISTER PUT TO MR HAUGHEY IN DECEMBER. ANDREWS SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THEM AFRESH, BUT WITHOUT PROMISES.
5. FINALLY (ARCHER'S FAX OF 13 FEBRUARY), I MENTIONED THE POSSIBLE MOVE FOR A STATEMENT BY THE TWELVE ON LOCKERBIE, AND RAN THROUGH THE BACKGROUND EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE WE, THE FRENCH AND THE AMERICANS ATTACHED TO THE ISSUE. ANDREWS SAID HE HOPED THERE WOULD BE "NO BOMBING". I SAID THAT ON THE CONTRARY, WE WERE SEEKING TO PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE LIBYANS TO PERSUADE THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS.
6. SEE MIFT (NOT TO ALL).
BLATHERWICK
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION 164
MAIN 111
. NORTHERN IRELAND
LIMITED
RID
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
INFO D
ECD(I)
NAD
NENAD
NEWS D
NTCD
PLANNERS
PMD
RAD
RMD
SCD
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR GAREL-JONES
PS/PUS
CHIEF CLERK
MR BROOMFIELD
MISS SPENCER
MR GREENSTOCK
ADDITIONAL 53
NORTHERN IRELAND
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