Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

TV Interview for ITN (Anglo-Italian Summit in Rome)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Villa Wolkonsky, Rome
Source: Thatcher Archive: COI transcript
Journalist: Glyn Mathias, ITN
Editorial comments:

MT gave interviews after lunch (which began at 1400). She called on President Pertini at 1630.

Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 716
Themes: Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU), European Union (general), European Union Budget, Defence (Falklands), British relations with Italy

Glyn Mathias

(itn) Prime Minister, after your talks today are you any more confident that a deal on the budget can be reached in the summit in Brussels in March?

Mrs. Thatcher

I think it's going to be quite difficult, you know our position, it's quite clear, we made it clear to our Italian friends today, that there can be no question of paying any more money to the Community unless we get a totally new system of financing it and that system is based on equity, fairness and ability to pay. The two go together.

G. Mathias

The Italians have of course been amongst those who have been least keen on the kind of reform you're talking about. Are they any nearer to your point of view now?

Mrs. Thatcher

I think they're beginning to understand it, because of course the system of financing the Community we have now doesn't stem from the treaty of rome, it seems from an agreement reached in 1970, just as the original system would not last, so the 1970 system has outlived its usefulness and we need a new one and I hope I've made it perfectly clear that Britain must have a fair deal and that there'll be no more money for the Community unless and until we get a fair deal.

G. Mathias

But do you think they're actually closer to believing that that will happen?

Mrs. Thatcher

I think they're closer to realising that that is what we require before we would ever consent to more money.

G. Mathias

The Italians have strong ties with Argentina. Did they today urge you to start talking again to Argentina?

Mrs. Thatcher

They do not urge us to start talking on sovereignty, they know that that would be utterly useless, we are not negotiating sovereignty of the Falklands with the Argentine. They are aware that we would like to have better relations on commercial deals and possibly eventually, provided Argentina will renounce the use of force, restore diplomatic relations. I've made it perfectly clear that when we think progress can be made, that we will approach the Argentinians direct and of course the approach is usually made through the swiss embassy, who has looked after our interests all the time since we haven't had a diplomatic embassy in Buenos Aires.

G. Mathias

Argentine foreign ministers have been in rome this week and I've spoken to them, they seemed to argue very strongly that there was no question of a resumption of normal relations unless you were prepared to start talking about the future of the islands, including sovereignty.

Mrs. Thatcher

Well, I'm not, and I think it would be very sad if they do not try to improve relations other than sovereignty—I will not be negotiating on sovereignty, I think it will be a mistake on their part and I think it will be a mistake on ours, if we didn't nevertheless try to have improved commercial relations and eventually to restore diplomatic relations.

G. Mathias

Are you at least prepared to negotiate about the cessation of hostilities?

Mrs. Thatcher

I'm astounded that they haven't agreed permanently to cease hostilities. Utterly astounded and of course before we can get very far they would have to.

G. Mathias

It doesn't seem very promising at the moment that we'll resume normal relations with Argentina this year or even possibly next year.

Mrs. Thatcher

If we don't, that will not be our fault. I sent a message to President Alfonsin when he took over after a democratic election, to say that although we have many differences, at least we could all be pleased that democracy was restored in Argentina. It will give her people more freedom and a sense of justice. We still refuse to negotiate sovereignty of the Falklands, the Falklands are British, it is the wish of the people there that they stay British and that is that. That does not prevent better commercial relations and restoring diplomatic relations.

G. Mathias

Thank you very much Prime Minister, thank you.