Minister gratified

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 25

Minister gratified

Parliamentary reporter “It is gratifying to see ' that the initiative taken i by New Zealand at the I United Nations on a nui clear test ban resolution I has been successful,” said ! the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys). The Minister was comI menting on the adoption by the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly of a comprehensive test ban resolution. The resolution which - expressed grave concern over the continuation of nuclear weapons testing in all environments, noted that negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty had begun, and urged Britain, . the United States, and J the Soviet Union to ex-

pedite their negotiations so that a draft treaty might be submitted to the special session on disarmament next May.

“New Zealand can take some real satisfaction from the outcome,” said Mr Taiboys. “We played a leading role in producing a compromise resolution which has attracted, for the first time, the support of three nuclear weapon States. The achievement of near unanimity on this text augurs well for the special session.” Mr Taiboys noted that nuclear weapons testing had continued over the last year. “Both super powers have conducted tests and only last week New Zealand's seismic network recorded a further underground test on

Mururoa. In September we protested to the Chinese authorities in Peking about an atmospheric test over Lop Nor. “Now, however, by their support of this resolution, Britian, the Soviet Union, and the United States are pledged to conclude a testban treaty that will put an end to their testing. “It is my hope that the other two nuclear weapon states — China, which voted against the resolution, and France, which abstained — will soon recognise with us that their security is not enhanced by the endless refining of nuclear capability but rather by the negotiation of genuine arms control measures like a comprehensive test ban treaty.” said Mr Taiboys.