PAGE 2 RBDWC 2225 RESTRICTED MENTIONED IN BAHRAIN 09093OZ JUL 85 DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT NORMAL WORKING IN THE OTHER GULF STATES AND IF WE CAN AVOID BAHRAIN ON EITHER OF THE DAYS THAT MIGHT BE CHOSEN FOR THE HOLIDAY THEN THIS SHOULD NOT PROVE AN INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING BY HMA ABU DHABI THAT OFFICIALS VISITS TO ABU DHABI IN SEPTEMBER WERE BEING DISCOURAGED BY THE UAE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS FURTHER WITH HMA ABU DHABI (IN LONDON) AND WITH THE POST AND IT APPEARS THAT THE RESTRICTION MIGHT NOT CREATE MUCH OF A PROBLEM FOR DEFENCE VISITORS. 2. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH MIGHT AFFLICT A LATER VISIT GIVEN MR BUTLERS BUSY CALENDAR (CF KUWAIT TELEGRAM TO FCO NO 200 OF 17 JUL) I PROPOSE THAT WE REVERT TO THE DATES 13-20 SEPTEMBER AND FOLLOW THE PROGRAMME OUTLINED IN MY 081300Z JUL 85, EXCEPT FOR A SWITCH IN THE DATES OF THE VISITS TO BAHRAIN AND QATAR. THIS WILL AVOID THE BAHRAINT PUBLIC HOLIDAY, AND PRODUCE THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY: FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER SAT/SUN 14/15 SEPTEMBER MONDAY 16 SEPTEMBER DEPART UK FOR KUWAIT KUWAIT (PM 15 DEPART FOR QATAR) QATAR (PM 16 DEPART FOR BAHRAIN) PAGE 3 RBDWC 2225 RESTRICTED TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER BAHRAIN (PM 17 DEPART FOR UAE) WED/THUR 18/19 SEPTEMBER UAE(ABU DHABI) FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER RETURN UK MR BUTLER WILL BE TRAVELLING BY RAF 125 WHICH WILL GIVE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY. THE DISTANCES INVOLVED ARE NOT IN ANY CASE VERY GREAT. 3. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS PROGRAMME ONCE AGAIN AND IF YOU AGREE SEEK APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE VISIT FROM HOST GOVERNMENTS. PRELIMINARY SUGGESTIONS FOR A PROGRAMME WOULD ALSO BE APPRECIATED. ACCOMPANYING PARTY REMAINS AS BEFORE BT
