non-paper

n. an off-the-record or unofficial presentation of (government) policy. Subjects: English, Politics, Jargon

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Citations: 1980 Joseph Joffe @ Hamburg Christian Science Monitor (Feb. 28) “Willy Brandt: go-between in US-Soviet dispute?”: The SPD sources also confirmed that Soviet Ambassador Semyonov did deliver a “nonpaper” (diplomatic jargon for an unofficial message) in early February that hinted at a message of mediation. 1984 Times (London, Eng.) (Mar. 7) “A two day meeting of EEC farm ministers in Brussels yesterday failed to make an agreement on the reform of the common agricultural policy” p. 6: M Michel Rocard, the French Minister, yesterday returned to Paris to discuss the summit with President Mitterrand. He will also be opening a “non paper”, setting out the position, which will be put to the council. 2004 Rajeev Sharma, Girja Shankar Kaura @ New Delhi Tribune (Chandigarh, India) (Sept. 10) “Dixit, Aziz hold secret talks in Delhi”: It is understood that British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had given a non-paper on Kashmir problem to the Indian and Pakistani leaderships when he visited the subcontinent in the first week of February this year. In diplomatic parlance, a “non-paper” is used when a government is conveying a point to other government/governments or state actors while keeping nothing on record.

Posted 13 Sep 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend