$Unique_ID{bob00532} $Pretitle{} $Title{United Kingdom East-West Relations} $Subtitle{} $Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC} $Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC} $Subject{commonwealth countries community trade member co-operation states africa development aid} $Date{1990} $Log{} Title: United Kingdom Book: Britain's Overseas Relations Author: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC Date: 1990 East-West Relations Britain considers that the 12 member states should ensure that a coherent Western European voice is heard in the management of East-West relations. The Twelve have welcomed the treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union on the removal of intermediate-range nuclear forces (see p 89). They have also stressed the need for the Soviet Union to address human rights issues seriously and to honour commitments made in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act (see p 87). At the current Vienna follow-up meeting, the Twelve have pressed for a thorough review of how these commitments have been complied with and for practical progress for the benefit of individual citizens throughout Europe. The Middle East In July 1980 the European Council's Venice Declaration stated that a lasting solution to the problem of the Middle East required the mutual acceptance of two basic principles-the right of all countries in the area, including Israel, to secure existence within guaranteed borders and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Twelve support the proposal for an international peace conference on the Middle East. Member states have repeatedly called on Israel to withdraw from territory occupied in 1967 and are opposed to Israeli measures aimed at altering the legal, geographical and demographic structure of this territory. Member states are also urging Israel to administer occupation in accordance with international law and human rights standards. The Community has a development programme for the occupied territories and has adopted measures to allow direct exports of agricultural and industrial products from them to the Community market. The Twelve have also consistently emphasised the importance of the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, except for those whose presence is requested by the Lebanese Government, and of the obligation on all parties to co-operate with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. Member states have consistently called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Iraq and Iran, and support the United Nations Secretary-General's efforts to achieve this. Central America The Twelve firmly believe that the problems of Central America must be solved by political and not military means and that such solutions must come from within the region. They have therefore consistently supported the efforts of the Contadora Group (Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela) to negotiate a comprehensive and verifiable peace agreement, and have welcomed the Central American Accord signed in Guatemala in August 1987 by the presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua designed to establish a durable and lasting peace in Central America. The Community has a co-operation agreement with the five Central American countries and Panama providing for closer economic and aid links with the region. Afghanistan Having consistently deplored the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan since 1980, member states have welcomed the agreement on Soviet withdrawal reached in Geneva in April 1988 (see p 88); they now wish to see an overall political settlement to the crisis and the installation of a representative government by a genuine act of self-determination. South Africa The Twelve have repeatedly called for a peaceful end to the system of apartheid. They have adopted a wide range of measures in an attempt to bring home to the South African Government the need for a genuine national dialogue and to help the victims of apartheid. At the request of the European Council the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, visited Southern Africa in late July 1986 in an attempt to build on the work of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons, to help create conditions in which genuine dialogue could begin in South Africa and to explain the Twelve's policy to South Africa's neighbours. In September 1986 the Twelve called on the South African Government to take the necessary steps to facilitate national dialogue and undertook to work towards a programme of political action designed to promote the achievement of this objective. They also emphasised the importance of strengthened and more effective co-ordination of positive measures to assist the victims of apartheid and adopted a new package of restrictive measures consisting of bans on new investments and on the import of gold coins, iron and steel from South Africa. The Twelve continue to work together to bring effective pressure to bear for peaceful fundamental change. Terrorism Because of the threat posed by international and other terrorism, member states have sought to act jointly against it. They have agreed not to export arms or other military equipment to countries clearly implicated in supporting terrorist activity and to take steps to prevent such material being diverted for terrorist purposes; in 1986, for instance, they agreed measures against both Libya and Syria following evidence of their involvement in terrorist activity. It is European Community policy that there should be no concessions made under duress to terrorists or their sponsors; that there should be solidarity between member states in their efforts to prevent terrorism and to bring the guilty to justice; and that terrorist attacks against any member state should be met with a concerted response. Among the measures agreed by ministers responsible for countering terrorism are the establishment of a secure communications link between police forces and arrangements for regular assessments and analyses of terrorist threats to member states. Trade Under the Treaty of Rome, the European Commission is given explicit powers to act on behalf of the Community vis-@a-vis third countries on matters within Community competence such as the common commercial policy. The Commission accordingly negotiates on behalf of the Community in major international trade negotiations. As a single trade bloc it plays a major role in seeking to preserve the world open trading system on which member states depend for future growth and jobs, and in defending the interests of its members against protectionist measures. One of the Community's priorities is the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations launched in 1986 under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The first phase of the negotiations was completed on schedule at the end of 1987. The negotiations seek to secure adherence to GATT rules; to cover trade in services for the first time (accounting for about 20 per cent of world trade); and to tackle agricultural trade problems. A major trade development in 1986 was the renewal for a further five years of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement governing world trade in textiles and the consequential renegotiation of 29 bilateral textile agreements between the Community and third-country suppliers. The Community has also agreed its priorities for future co-operation with the European Free Trade Association. The Community has association and co-operation agreements with all countries with a Mediterranean coastline (except Albania and Libya) and with Jordan; these give preferential access to Community markets. Non-preferential co-operation agreements have also been made with individual countries in South Asia and Latin America as well as with China, the Association of South East Asian Nations, the Andean Pact and the Central American states. Trade relations with the developing countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are governed by the third Lom*e Convention (see below). Negotiations on trade and economic co-operation agreements are taking place with Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania. In June 1988 the Community established official relations with the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon) and signed a trade and economic co-operation agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council. The Community's Generalised Scheme of Preferences is designed to help developing countries by granting tariff-free access to the Community market for most of their industrial goods and varying degrees of preferential access for their agricultural produce and textiles. The 1988 scheme concentrates benefits on the poorer producers and countries and certain categories of exports from the more competitive producers are being excluded, in the textiles sector for the first time. Aid The third Lom*e Convention, which governs aid, trade and co-operation between the Community and 66 developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), was signed in December 1984 and came into force in May 1986. Over half the ACP countries are members of the Commonwealth. The Convention, which runs from 1986 to 1990, provides for aid totalling over 5,000 million Pounds and a further 770 million Pounds in the form of loans from the European Investment Bank; it also covers industrial and agricultural co-operation, a scheme designed to help stabilise the commodity export earnings of the ACP countries and assistance for ACP mineral producers whose production and income suffer from temporary disruptions beyond their control. In addition, it offers duty-free access to the Community for ACP exports of all industrial and most agricultural goods, including privileged access for sugar, bananas, rum and beef. Emphasis is being placed on food production and on measures to prevent desertification. All British dependent territories (with the exception of Bermuda, Gibraltar and Hong Kong), together with the overseas territories of other Community members, are formally associated with the Community under provisions parallel to those of the Lom*e Convention and with similar aid and trade benefits. In 1987 the Council of Ministers approved a special Community programme worth over 200 million Pounds to aid highly indebted low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa pursuing structural adjustment economic policies. Britain played a leading part in the Community's adoption of an aid programme for developing countries in Asia and Latin America not covered by the Lom*e Convention or having any other special relationship with the Community. This has grown steadily since 1976 and was worth some 117 million Pounds in 1987. Priority is given to rural development and agricultural production in the poorest countries, most of which are in Asia. Co-operation and association agreements with individual countries and regional groupings also include provision for development aid. In 1987, for instance, new five-year financial protocols were agreed with most of the Community's Mediterranean partners; these will provide for 430 million Pounds of Community aid and 1,120 million Pounds in loans from the European Investment Bank. The Community's food aid programme is designed to be an effective instrument of development policy rather than a short-term expedient for the disposal of unwanted food surpluses. In 1987 it spent some 282 million Pounds on food aid, of which Britain's share was 60 million Pounds, much of which went to Africa. The Commonwealth The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 48 independent states with a combined population of some 1,200 million, nearly a quarter of the world total. Commonwealth members are a representative cross-section of nations at all stages of social and economic development. They include some of the richest and poorest members of the world community and also some of the largest and smallest. Their peoples are drawn from practically all the world's main races, from all continents and from many faiths. Britain participates fully in all Commonwealth activities and values it as a means of consulting and co-operating with peoples of widely different cultures and perspectives, thereby increasing international understanding, stability and peace, and contributing to more balanced global economic development. The members are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Britain, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nauru and Tuvalu are special members, entitled to take part in all Commonwealth meetings and activities except Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. The Queen is recognised as head of the Commonwealth; she is also head of State in 17 of these countries. The origin of the Commonwealth lies in the gradual granting of self-government to the older-established British colonies (later known as the Dominions) in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa where European settlement had occurred on a large scale. Their fully independent status in relation to Britain was legally formulated in the Statute of Westminster of 1931. The modern Commonwealth, comprising republics and national monarchies as well as monarchies under the Queen, became possible when it was agreed in 1949 that India, on becoming a republic, could continue to be a member. Since then, almost all of Britain's former dependent territories have attained their independence and have voluntarily joined the Commonwealth. Consultation As a member of the Commonwealth, Britain participates in a system of mutual consultation and co-operation which benefits member countries and contributes to international understanding. Consultation takes place through diplomatic representatives known as high commissioners, meetings of heads of Government, specialised conferences of other ministers and officials, expert groups, and discussions at international conferences and the United Nations. Trade and cultural exhibitions and conferences of professional and unofficial medical, cultural, educational and economic organisations are other ways in which frequent contacts are made. Heads of Government usually meet every two years, most recently in Vancouver in 1987; they will next meet in Kuala Lumpur in 1989. Proceedings are held in private, facilitating a frank and informal exchange of views. No votes are taken, decisions being reached by consensus. These meetings allow prime ministers and presidents to discuss international issues and decide on collective initiatives. Common views on matters of major international concern are formulated and reflected in the communiqu*es issued at the ends of the meetings. Occasionally, separate declarations are made on particular issues. These have included the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles; the 1977 Gleneagles Statement, which commits member governments to take every practical step to discourage sporting contacts with South Africa; and the 1985 Commonwealth Accord on Southern Africa, which provides for measures designed to impress on South Africa the urgency of dismantling the apartheid system. The 1987 Okanagan Statement and Programme of Action on Southern Africa committed member states to increased support for the front-line states including a special technical assistance programme for Mozambique. The 1987 Vancouver Declaration on World Trade condemned protectionism and supported trade liberalisation through the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (see p 82). Following the failure of Commonwealth and other attempts in 1986 to encourage the evolution of a political dialogue leading to the establishment of a non-racial and representative government, a summit of seven Commonwealth leaders, meeting in London in August 1986, agreed on the need for further measures against South Africa. Britain, while believing that mandatory economic sanctions would not succeed in promoting peaceful change, agreed to impose voluntary bans on new investment in, and the promotion of tourism to, South Africa, as well as to implement European Community decisions to ban the import of iron and steel (see p 81). With many small states among its members the Commonwealth has expressed concern about their security and development. At Nassau in 1985 Commonwealth leaders called for action which would reduce the vulnerability of small states while not diminishing their status as independent, sovereign and equal members of the world community. British policy is to co-operate with other member states in order to increase the security of small nations by encouraging regional co-operation and by providing economic aid and technical assistance. Finance ministers meet annually to discuss world economic problems, and in recent years have paid particular attention to the problems of development and the establishment of a fairer international economic order. Other meetings include those of agriculture, education, health and law ministers which take place every two or three years. Ministers of industry, labour and employment, trade and women's affairs also meet. The Commonwealth Secretariat The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in London in 1965 and financed by member states, is the main agency for multilateral communication between them. It is headed by a Secretary-General appointed by heads of Government and responsible to member states collectively. The Secretariat promotes consultation, disseminates information on matters of common concern, and organises meetings and conferences, including those of heads of Government and of ministers. It co-ordinates many Commonwealth activities related to international economic, social and political affairs, including education, food production and rural development, the role of women in development, human rights, youth programmes, management development, science and technology, law and health. The Secretariat also administers the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation. Because of its neutral position the Secretariat has been able to make its good offices available in cases of dispute, and has carried out, on request, special assignments requiring demonstrable impartiality. Technical Co-operation Britain plays an active part in the work of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, established within the Secretariat to provide technical assistance for economic and social development in Commonwealth developing countries, and contributes almost a third of its income. The Fund provides experts to undertake advisory assignments or fill specific posts and uses consultancy firms to make studies for governments. Its fellowships and training programme is of particular help in raising levels of technical, industrial, managerial and other skills, and makes wide use of training facilities within developing member countries for the benefit of other developing countries. It has a special programme to help countries develop their exports, another on food production and rural development and a small technical assistance group to give advice in key areas. An industrial development unit, the main executive agency of the Commonwealth Action Programme of Industrial Co-operation, investigates the feasibility of establishing new industries in developing countries and helps to prepare and initiate agreed projects. Expenditure by Britain on bilateral technical co-operation with Commonwealth developing countries in 1987 was 138 million Pounds, the greater part being spent on financing staff for service with Commonwealth governments and in financing training places in Britain for people from Commonwealth countries. In 1987 the British aid programme financed the study in Britain of 8,000 students from other Commonwealth countries. Other assistance includes sending volunteers to serve overseas, consultancy services, the supply of training and research equipment, and the provision of advice by British scientific and technical institutions. (About 70 per cent of Britain's gross bilateral aid in 1987 went to Commonwealth countries, including Britain's remaining dependencies - see p 86.) Commonwealth Organisations The Commonwealth Foundation was established in 1966 and reconstituted as an international organisation in 1983. Financed by member governments, it promotes closer co-operation among professional and other non-governmental organisations within the Commonwealth. It has assisted over 30 Commonwealth professional associations, and has helped in the creation and growth of many national ones; it has also supported 16 multidisciplinary professional centres. It promotes understanding of work carried out by non-governmental organisations and is encouraging the strengthening of information links through the establishment of liaison units in each Commonwealth country. The Commonwealth Institute in London promotes the Commonwealth, its countries and its people to the British public. Funded mainly by the British Government, it has three main galleries of permanent exhibitions and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions, conferences and performances. Its education service runs an extensive programme of teaching about the Commonwealth in schools around Britain. The Institute is open to the public every day without charge. The Royal Commonwealth Society, which is over 100 years old, is a centre for study and discussion, its library in London housing one of the largest collections on the Commonwealth. The Society has branches in many countries. In keeping with the fact that the Commonwealth is an association of peoples as well as governments, many unofficial organisations, professional bodies and voluntary societies provide machinery for co-operation. Professional bodies include associations of architects, doctors, educators, engineers, journalists, lawyers, librarians, magistrates, museum curators, nurses, pharmacists, planners, surveyors and veterinary surgeons. Other organisations include the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which organises an annual conference of parliamentarians, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, he Commonwealth Games Federation and the English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth.