Reports of Soviet actions in Angola distorted — envoy

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34103, 16 March 1976, Page 10

Reports of Soviet actions in Angola distorted — envoy

Some newspapers in New Zealand were not sufficiently informed about the situation in Angola, said the Russian Ambassador to New Zealand (Mr 0. Selyaninov) in an interview on his first visit to Christchurch. Some newspapers presented the situation in Angola and the role of the soviet Union in that country in a distorted light Time will bear out the truth of this.' he said. “No armed Soviet soldier fought in Angola." said Mr sei* antnov. "Soviet actions there were intended to help the lawful Government of Angola, the government of the people, to safeguard us independence. "The assistance the Soviet Union had rendered to the people of Angola and their legitimate government was in full accord with the resolutions of the United

I Nations concerning the fate , of people who are treeing' . themselves from Colonial t ' dependence, and ,in accord: I with the corresponding deci-i I sions of the Organisation of: African Unity," Mr Selyanirtov insisted. The recognition of the ; newly independent Govern-i ment of Angola by most countries of the world was proof of the correctness of s Russia’s actions, he said. DISSIDENTS L ' When asked about the ‘ treatment of political dissidents in the Soviet Union. Mr Selyaninov said. "I don’t understand why they are r speaking about this question.] r There does not exist such a ’ question in our country. Ifj ’ they mean persons who * commit crimes against the] f State, then it is quite a dif- ’ ferent matter. "People who commit t crimes against the State are[ ? punished in accordance with! r the existing laws. In-I s cidentally. such a situation • exists in other countries' 1 also. Probably some people l

want to present the .matter differently because it is useful for them to distort the truth and .to present -black! as white. I cannot agree i with this.” . i; Any measures the State! takes against such people isj because the people have; corpmittdd unlawful acts —; 'for example. by dis-L seminating illegal publica-! tions — which tended to! undermine the Soviet Con-i stitution and the social and! political system which wasj. the basis of the State, he! said. All views and expressions; of opinion which were not! i aimed against the Soviet! i constitution or against the! i| social and political system ; were considered to be legal l ' in the Soviet Union, said Mr 'I Selyaninov. TRADE OPPORTUNITIES Mr Selyaninov said that; !he saw great opportunities; for more extensive trade and ifor more technical, scientific! and cultural co-operation between New Zealand and eßussia.

He was awaiting a reply from New Zealand government departments about proposals he had made that New Zealand and Russia should co-operate in ocean research.

He had proposed that scientists from both countries should co-operate in this and in particular in research into the fish resources of the Pacific. This research could be done in accordance with programmes suggested by New Zealand, said Mr Selyaninov. “The Soviet Union is ready to make available its well-equipped research vessels for this purpose.”, he said. Mr Selyaninov said that environmental conservation was also a field in which technical and scientific cooperation between the two 'countries could be mutually i beneficial. DETENTE fhe twenty-fifth congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union had emphasised that the most ! important thing in foreign affairs at present was to continue measures aimed at international detente.

“The Helsinki Conference >n European security and

co-operation has proved.” said Mr Selyaninov, "that it is now’ possible to reach igreement about co-operation md peaceful co-existence 'mong States with differing social and political systems.”

Mr Selyaninov emphasised that, it was important to add military detente to political detente and said that New' Zealand and Russia could also co-operate to achieve a complete prohibition of all nuclear testing along the lines of the proposal made by the Soviet Union at the thirtieth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

“I hope that the Soviet and New Zealand delegations to the Law of the Sea Conference will continue to work together because the positions of the two countries on such issues as the 200-mile economic zone are so close." On the home front, said Mr Selyaninov. the congress had adopted a comprehensive programme for the further economic development of the Soviet Union. “We are planning to increase our industrial output 43 per cent during the term of the next five-year plan,” said Mr Selyaninov.