Diplomats left with consent

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33675, 26 October 1974, Page 2

Diplomats left with consent

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 25.

; The Ministry of [Foreign Affairs today gave an assurance that two members of the Russian Embassy staff left New Zealand earlier this month with the |Government’s consent.

A spokesman for the Ministry conceded that last night’s statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) on the departure of the embassy’s first secretary (Mr D. A. Razgovorov), and a member of the administrative staff, Mr U. F. Pertsev, was incomplete and open to misinterpretation.

Mr Rowling said that the Government had asked that the two Russians, who have been named in the prosecution case against Dr W. B. Sutch, remain on the premises of the Russian Embassy while proceedings were before the Court. In the statement’s next paragraph Mr Rowling said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was advised by the embassy of the pending departures of the two Russians. The spokesman said Mr Rowling had requested that the Russians be confined to the embassy in case their presence was requested in Dr Sutch’s court case. When it became clear that they were not needed, the Government raised no objections to their departure.

Polynesian festival.— The third New Zealand Polynesian festival will be held at Okara Park, Whangarei, from February 7 to 8. The Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Rata) said that 1200 would take part in the festival.— (P.A.)