Tim Sebastian
(BBC) Prime Minister, it's seven weeks before the next summit, the next European summit, have you heard anything either in Paris this week or here in Rome that would lead you to think that the Community is coming out of its financial difficulties … that there's a greater will?
Mrs. Thatcher
Well, I know that President Mitterrand would like to reach an agreement at Brussels in March, there is nevertheless a great deal to do. We had a long talk at Athens, there are many many things on which to disagree, not only the budget, but part of the Common Agricultural Policy as well and the surpluses. There's a lot to do, it'll be very very good indeed if we do manage to achieve an agreement at Brussels, but I don't disguise the difficulties.
T. Sebastian
Do you think that the disagreement is as great as it was in Athens, do you think progress has been made since then?
Mrs. Thatcher
Well, I'm not aware of any progress on the details since then, but we're only just beginning to get to grips with the detailed talks but we've made our position on the budget very clear, we've not had a fair deal and if there's to be any question of any more money going to the European Community it can only be on the basis that the financing of Europe is done on fair and equitable basis, of each country shouldering its own share. That is not so at the moment.
T. Sebastian
Did the Italians share your sense of urgency about the issue?
Mrs. Thatcher
I think they realise our position and they accept the strength of feeling in Britain and they accept our conditions for reaching agreement.
T. Sebastian
Prime Minister, the Italian government has had plenty of contact with the Argentines, they've spoken to you about the Falklands, did they have any fresh insights to offer you on Argentine thinking?
Mrs. Thatcher
No, the amount of talks we spent on the Falklands was very very brief indeed, just an exchange of views and information. That was over very quickly. They know our position very well, we are not negotiating on the sovereignty of the Falklands but we should like to extend the hand of friendship on commercial relations and possibly eventually to restore diplomatic relations with Argentina, provided she renounces the use of force.
T. Sebastian
When you said you were astonished that there hasn't been the declared cessation of hostilities did the Italians offer any comment about that?
Mrs. Thatcher
No, that question came up in the press conference and I am astonished that a country that has returned to democracy has not renounced the use of force but she has not.
T. Sebastian
Thank you very much, Prime Minister.