1.
GV Mintoff's car arriving & Mintoff gets out and into building
0.13

2.
GV Carrington's car arrive, gets out and into building
0.29

3.
GV Flag
0.32

4.
SV Mintoff shaking hands with Carrington & Carrington into car
0.40

5.
SCU Mintoff on steps
0.43

6.
SV & MV Carrington into car and away
0.48



Initials SGM/0200 SGM/0210



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Maltese Prime Minister Mr Dom Mintoff was visited by Britain's Defence Secretary Lord Carrington early today (Friday 20 August) for talks on Britain's latest offer for the island's defence facilities.

No details of the talks were released, but while Mr Mintoff has already expressed his disappointment at the offer, the Russians have apparently told him of their willingness to help solve his country's economic problems.

The Soviet news agency TASS says that Mr Mintoff has also been told that plans are being made for Soviet warships to use Malta's dry docks. At the same time, it has been announced that NATO's (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) naval headquarters -- until Thursday (19 August) in Malta -- will now be set up in Naples.

SYNOPSIS: Maltase Prime Minister, Mr Dom Mintoff arrived at his office early Friday morning to confer with Britain's Defence Secretary Lord Carrington over the financial arrangements for keeping British military bases on the island. Lord Carrington's visit lasted for 90 minutes and no official statement was released afterwards....it was however expected that some progress was recorded.

Lord Carrington was believed to have offered immediate cash availability within the eight and a half million pounds a year in cash and development aid agreed with Britain's NATO partners.....meanwhile it has been announced that the new NATO headquarters is to be in Naples.