N.Z. pledge on aid to Indo-China

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 23

N.Z. pledge on aid to Indo-China

PA Wellington New Zealand would play a full part in international efforts to relieve human suffering in IndoChina, the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Talboys) has said. Mr Taiboys referred to recommendations adopted earlier this week by the Advisory Committee on External Aid and Development about additional humanitarian aid to IndoChina. “We are already taking our share of the responsibility for refugees,” Mr Taiboys said. “Our main contribution is to take as many refugees as we can resettle in New Zealand, but we are also contributing financially through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Perhaps the most urgent need at present, however, is to relieve the human suffering Within Kampuchea. The Government has already contributed $5OOO to the Thai Red Cross, through the New Zealand Red Cross, for this purpose. We are also prepared to contribute substantially to any international programme that can be ‘'organised, either through the United Nations or through the International Red Cross.” On Vietnam, Mr Taiboys said that it would be difficult for New Zealand to extend any new assistance “unless and until Vietnam demonstrates, by its actions, that it respects the independence of Kampuchea.” The $160,000 tentatively allocated to Vietnam in this year’s aid programme

would not go to project aid in Vietnam, but might be drawn on for humanitarian purposes elsewhere in the area, for example relief aid in Kampuchea and for Indo-Chinese refugees. he said. “The only direct assistance to Vietnam at present is a small training programme for English language interpreters,” Mr Taiboys said. • “Thp Government welcomes the decline in the outflow of refugees from Vienam tha has occurred since the Geneva conference last month, and we hope that this improvement will continue.” Mr Taiboys said. “We would welcome even more warmly any practical action by Vietnam to demonstrate that it respects he independence and neutrality of Kampuchea.”