Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman on: President Reagan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and G8.
President Reagan
Asked if the Prime Minister would be attending President Reagan’s funeral on Friday, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) said that since there were still issues relating to US protocol which had to be dealt with, she was unable to give definitive answer at this stage.
Saudi Arabia
Questioned about travel guidance for those planning to visit Saudi Arabia, the PMS said that it hadn’t changed since yesterday. As the Foreign Office had stipulated, people should travel to Saudi Arabia only if was essential to do so.
Iraq
Asked for an update on the UN Resolution on Iraq, the PMS said that she did not want to pre-empt what might transpire later today. However, it was important for people to recognise that a lot of work had been done on this issue. We were very happy with the way things had gone and we were also very satisfied with the language in the Resolution, which was just what we had been looking for. The day the Resolution was passed would be a good day for Iraq and the UN.
G8
Asked for a reaction to today’s Guardian story suggesting that President Bush might be willing to support the UK’s debt relief plan for poorer countries in return for backing for a proposal to write off debts incurred by Saddam, the PMS said that her colleague had explained the general principles of the G8 Summit at both of yesterday’s briefings. Heads of Government would look at the broader Middle East and also Africa following on from the process begun at Evian. No doubt other issues would be dealt with in the margins of the Summit, many of which might not grab the headlines but which were important nevertheless.
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