Question
Mrs. Thatcher, could you just give us a line about how it went this morning?
Prime Minister
Very well. … . on drugs.
Question
Were you surprised to be asked to explain the statement which came out in your name last night?
Prime Minister
The communique that came out last night on South Africa said quite clearly in several places Britain takes a different view. I spelt out that different view.
Question
(INAUDIBLE) [end p1]
Prime Minister
No … to express your view. That communique said Britain takes a different view. Therefore, I spelled out that different view.
Question
(INAUDIBLE) (BACKGROUND COMMENT: WE ARE NOT TRYING TO … . LADY OVER—YOU ARE CAUSING TROUBLE!)
Prime Minister
… to the United Nations Convention and we have already taken action in our own legislation and we have already signed ten bilateral agreements with other countries to trace the proceeds of drug trafficking and we hope that by the next Commonwealth Conference we shall … . [end p2]
Question
Do we back the UN strike force?
Prime Minister
I commented on what other people said about a United Nations strike force, that I thought it would be acutely difficult. So far, United Nations forces are only peace-keeping forces. I could not possibly see how we could have a shooting United Nations force—you have rules of engagement, who was responsible, who will pay compensation. United Nations forces are peace-keeping and therefore I cannot back a United Nations strike force; I do not think it would be a possibility.
I also then went on to other aspects of laundering money which clearly is being done in ways with which we are not fully conversant and that we had to set up a group in the Economic Summit countries … investment bankers to try and see if we could deal with that, and finally, that we really must in fact deal with the demand for it because I remember President Barco of Columbia saying: “Look! If people did not buy this, we would not grow it and the drug traffickers would have no market!” and so it is our bounden duty to do as much as we can to reduce the demand for drugs and we are holding an international conference in 1990 in Britain on reducing demand and President Barco will be there and we have asked also the United Nations Javier Perez de CuellarSecretary General.