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Posted on 10/08/2003 1:02:34 PM PDT by shaggy eel
New Zealand's government is rejecting a call from the United States to review its anti-nuclear policy after Washington warned it would not "get over it".
US ambassador Charles Swindells attempted to deliver the "think-again" message in a speech at Victoria University yesterday but was forced to abandon it after anti-war protesters shouted him down.
The Government condemned the protesters' actions, but said the policy would not be revisited.
Mr Swindells intended to use the speech about New Zealand-US relations to call for a review of the anti-nuclear policy and voice disappointment at New Zealand's failure to fight alongside its traditional allies in Iraq.
It is understood that, on a recent trip to Washington, Mr Swindells was told the US Government was frustrated that its position on issues, including trade and Iraq, was not being portrayed accurately in New Zealand. US officials have expressed concern that statements about the prospect of a free trade agreement have been "spun" more positively than the US intended.
The ambassador's speech, which was signalled in advance, was cleared with the US State Department, National Security Council and the White House.
In prepared notes, Mr Swindells said New Zealand and the US had a close relationship and denied any link between the nuclear-free legislation and a free trade agreement.
But he called for a "re-examination" of the legislation and said the US was not going to "just get over it".
He also pointedly referred to New Zealand's refusal to stand alongside traditional allies Australia, Britain and the US in Iraq. "I tell you frankly that we were saddened by New Zealand's decision not to participate in the liberation of the Iraqi people."
More than 60 Defence Force personnel left New Zealand for Iraq this month to help with reconstruction but the Government refused to send combat troops and sided against the US over the need to go to war.
The Government denied yesterday that the ambassador's speech signalled any shift in US position and said it covered ground that had been well traversed.
The speech comes just two weeks out from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in Thailand, where Prime Minister Helen Clark will rub shoulders with US President George W Bush.
Any hopes the meeting might lead to a breakthrough on free trade talks were dashed when Mr Swindells said the US was still not prepared to enter negotiations and warned against raised expectations.
On Iraq, Miss Clark said the US probably would have liked many of its friends to have joined the war. The reality was very few did.
But she said the ambassador deserved more respect from the protesters.
"In a democracy we have to uphold the right to free speech. It's most unfortunate when the ambassador of a very, very friendly country doesn't get a fair hearing."
The anti-nuclear policy, meanwhile, was not going to change.
Miss Clark and Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff were given copies of the speech yesterday morning before its intended delivery.
Mr Goff said it contained nothing new. "The Government has no intention of reviewing its nuclear policy. The Government's stance is in line with what ordinary New Zealanders feel about nuclear-armed and powered ships."
National is now under pressure to state its position after condemning the Government over its stance but refusing to commit to removing the nuclear-free legislation.
Mr Swindells' comments come hard on the heels of a warning by the Australian high commissioner that trans-Tasman relations are at a turning point and the two countries are in danger of drifting apart.
,,, if President Bush can marginalise Arafat, he's got my permission to marginalise Clark.
Mr Goff said it contained nothing new. "The Government has no intention of reviewing its nuclear policy. The Government's stance is in line with what ordinary New Zealanders feel about nuclear-armed and powered ships."
,,, which recent referendum indicated that, Phil? New Zealanders aren't being consulted about any of the major changes going thru at breakneck speed under the Labour government. Nice to have some mid 80's sentiment to call on, isn't it?
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Perhaps the U.S. should rethink its foreign policy - - especially when it comes to designating those that are considered "friends."
,,, the political scene is lousey but the Savignon Blanc is supreme [LOL!]
Ain't nothing gonna happen while Clark is in there.
Of course Bulger didn't change the policy either, but with a center-right government there's at least a chance of some flexibility.
I hope that the free trade agreement happens. But I am wondering what Clark thinks it will take to get it.
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