P.M. off to forum

Press, 26 August 1977, Page 3

P.M. off to forum

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, (Mr Muldoon), said yesterday he hoped nations attending the South Pacific Forum meeting in Port Moresby next week' would indicate when they intended making moves to establish 200-mile economic zones round their countries. 1 Pacific nations could then go ahead and act in concert to set up zones, he said, after the weekly caucus meeting. Mr Muldoon said most; nations had agreed to wait, until after the recent Law of'

the Sea Conference in New ■ York before implementing < 200-mile zones. However, the conference j ; had not made sufficient pro- , Igress, and it would therefore ; be necessary for the zones j to be established unilaterally. The Minister of Foreign! Affairs (Mr Taiboys) said that no decision had yet ! been made on the date for! ’declaring New Zealand's! 200-mile zone. There have been sugges-!’ itions that it could be Octo- 11 , b«,r 1, or April 1 next year. Mr Muldoon has said he 1 !

would prefer to see it declared this year. Mr Taiboys said the date for New Zealand’s declaration could be decided while Mr Muldoon is at the forum meeting. Establishment of the 200-[ mile economic zones will be; the principal subject for dis-1 icussion at the forum meet-! ling. Mr Muldoon was to fly to Brisbane last evening and; ! will arrive in Port Moresby [ this afternoon. He will return on September 2.