Robert Mellor
(IRN) Prime Minister, there has been an election since you were here last. Did you find any differences in approach, viewpoints, or attitudes in relation to the subjects discussed this time?
Mrs. Thatcher
No, I found no differences whatsoever.—we think similarly on East/West relations, we're both partners in the Lebanon, and we … the views have not changed on the European problem.
R. Mellor
While the Italians have said that they understand the British budget position in the Common Market, do they actually support your stand?
Mrs. Thatcher
That I do not know, but they understand it cannot go on as it is, they understand that the Italian government are very substantial beneficiaries, from Europe, and that we are enormous payers of money to Europe and they understand that that enormous imbalance just cannot go on, and they understand that we will not agree to any increase in the resources of the Community unless and until our position and the whole of the financing of Europe is properly provided for.
R. Mellor
Speaking on that budget problem and the finances, there has been a late development only this morning, to the effect that the auditors in brussels for the Common Market have discovered, they say, that Britain owes the Common Market some six hundred and fifty million dollars, as a result of overpayments to your milk producers. Could you comment on that?
Mrs. Thatcher
I know of no decision by the commission which puts us in any liability. I do know that we are owed money which we have protested to the commission about, money in respect of the 1982 refund which has not yet been paid … (break) … . at the end of March this year, we're also owed seven hundred and fifty million ecu but I know of no decision by the commission to the contrary effect.
R. Mellor
You discussed also the situation in Beirut and of course the multilateral … or the multinational peacekeeping force, are you in sympathy with the withdrawal of Italian troops from Beirut?
Mrs. Thatcher
I believe that all of us in the multinational force must act together, I believe Italy takes the same view and therefore any action would have to be as a result of consultation and discussion between us and I believe that we would take the view that one could not just pull out and leave a vacuum, that one would have to arrange for some alternative force to take our place, possibly a United Nations force.
R. Mellor
Does this view also hold in relation to the reduction of the Italian force?
Mrs. Thatcher
That is a matter for Italy.
R. Mellor
You had also mentioned this morning during your news conference, as did the Italian Prime Minister, that you are … . you discussed a greater role for the United Nations, in this peacekeeping situation in Lebanon, precisely what did you have in mind? [end p1]
Mrs. Thatcher
I think it would be the natural successor force to the multinational force, the multinational force is there at the moment to help facilitate the process of reconciliation of President Gemayal in forming a broadly based government, it is running up against certain difficulties, but I hope that he will be able to sort out those difficulties, there's not the slightest shadow of doubt that no process of reconciliation would have been able to come about unless there had been the presence of a multinational force in the Lebanon.
Question missingMrs. Thatcher
Yes, indeed, but don't forget there is a unifor++ force already in southern Lebanon, and also don't forget that the United Nations forces have an excellent record in their role as truce supervisory organisations.
R. Mellor
In relation to the Falklands situation, you have mentioned that for the time being at least Britain wants to go it alone in attempting to negotiate with Argentina and therefore the offer of the Italian government or the Italian Prime Minister to serve as mediator would not at least for now be accepted: does that really mean for now or is that a decision of no mediation except directly between Britain and Argentina?
Mrs. Thatcher
There is no suggestion of B. CraxiThe Italian Prime Minister offering his services as a mediator, he did not offer those services because I think he probably realised that direct negotiations under these circumstances are much better.
R. Mellor
And as a final question, this morning the Argentine foreign Minister is quoted in one of the Italian newspapers to the effect that obviously the Malvinas islands, as he calls them, belong to Argentina and that Argentina will get them and he says very emphatically that Europe will help Argentina to acquire them. What is your comment?
Mrs. Thatcher
I do not comment on the comments of other Foreign Ministers, I tell you exactly what the position is. We are not negotiating on sovereignty of the Falklands, they are British, the people, it is the wishes of the people who live in the Falklands that they stay British, the wishes of the people are paramount. We do not therefore negotiate on sovereignty, we are anxious to have more friendly relations with Argentina and will pursue that directly with them, when the time is appropriate, better commercial relations and should they reject and renounce the use of force permanently then we might eventually be able to restore diplomatic relations. That is a long way down the road yet.
R. Mellor
Thank you so much.