53. Telegram 822 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State, March 10, 1973, 0045Z.1 2
TELEGRAM
Department of State
USUN 822
R 100045 Z MAR 73
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6942
USUN 822
Exdis
E. O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: UN, VN
SUBJECT: PROBLEM OF PRG REPRESENTATION
REF: USUN 780
1. DESPITE WALDHEIM’S STATEMENTS TO AMB Scali THAT HE HAS NO INTENTION OF GRANTING PRG LIAISON OFFICE OR OBSERVER STATUS AT UN NEW YORK, FORM OF CONTACT WITH PRG REMAINS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY SYG AND HIS STAFF. DURING AFTER-DINNER CONVERSATION MARCH 8 LEGAL ADVISER STAVROPOULOS SOUNDED OUT AMB BENNETT ON IDEA OF SYG RECEIVING PRG REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK “FOR BUSINESS TALKS” FROM TIME TO TIME. BENNETT REPLIED THAT HE WOULD ADVISE STAVROPOULOS STRONGLY AGAINST ANY SUCH RECOMMENDATION TO SYG. AS STAVROPOULOS KNEW, SYG WAS ALREADY SKATING ON VERY THIN ICE WITH USG ON PRG ISSUE. RECEIVING PRG AT THIS STAGE UNDER ANY FORMULA WOULD IN ITSELF GIVE PRG A TYPE OF RECOGNITION. IDEA COULD BE REGARDED IN BENNETT’S OPINION AS A NON-STARTER.
2. STAVROPOULOS SAID THAT HE WAS 100 PERCENT AGAINST THE GRANTING OF
LIAISON OFFICE STATUS TO PRG AND HAD OPPOSED IT FROM THE START. HE
ARGUED HOWEVER THAT SYG MUST BE FREE TO CARRY OUT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES
TO BE IN TOUCH WITH ALL PARTIES AND THAT IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT ON USG TO
ISSUE VISAS FOR TEMPORARY VISIT ON SYG REQUEST. BENNETT ADVISED
STAVROPOULOS NOT TO PUT THIS LEGAL POSITION TO A TEST.
SCALI