Visit of Mr I T M Lucas, Head of Middle East Department, to Middle Eastern countries, 1-12 November 1976

This file concerns the Head of the Middle East Department I T M Lucas's visit to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) and the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) in November 1976. It contains arrangements, itineraries, impressions, memoranda and correspondence on:

• The YAR's social and economic development
• The YAR's internal situation
• The Soviet Union's presence in the YAR, including reference to Saudi Arabia's attempts to crush political groups and remove all Soviet influence in the YAR
• Relations between the two Yemens
• British interests in the YAR
• The regime in Aden
• Anglo-PDRY relations
• The Dhofar rebellion, including reference to the presence of Iranian troops
• The YAR's desire to import Range Rovers and other British vehicles; and British Leyland's refusal to follow up opportunities in the YAR after the Arab boycott was lifted
• The YAR's wish for British Airways to make direct flights into Sana'a
• The PDRY's relations with Saudi Arabia
• The YAR's desire for a closer relationship with the European Economic Community
• The future of the oil refinery in Aden.