All ready for Luxemburg

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 1

All ready for Luxemburg

(N.Z.P.A.-Keuter— Copyright) I BRUSSELS, June 17. J Britain and the six 1 countries of the Common r Market have held their t last negotiating round r before next week’s de- ® cisive Ministerial meet- £ ing on Britain’s entry 1 application. ’ The mood was one of opti-1 rnism that the main outstand- r ing issues would be resolved s at next week’s session in t

Luxemburg, and only two days have been set aside for the meeting—Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday, Britain’s deputy negotiator, Sir Con O’Neill, told the Six that the three matters Britain wanted resolved by the Ministers were: the length of an initial transitional period for New Zealand; the quantities of butter and cheese for which New Zealand would have guaranteed access to the Community during this period; and provisions for reviewing the situation thereafter.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said in London yesterday that he was confident the “political will” existed for a satisfactory solution to be hammered out.

“As the question of safeguards for exports which are vital to New Zealand’s economy is one of the principal items on the Foreign Ministers’ agenda, I will be on hand in Luxemburg to consult with Mr Rippon at any stage of the negotiations,” said Mr Marshall. While Mr Marshall has W*

steered clear of negotiating sessions in the past, it was obvious that if he wanted to maintain a say in the final settlement on New Zealand he would have to be present at this vital series of talks.

He will be accompanied by a team of New Zealand officials which will include the Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Mr M. J. Moriarty) and the New Zealand Ambassador in Brussels (Mr M. Norrish). „