Pol Pot recognition constantly reviewed

Press, 21 November 1979, Page 1

Pol Pot recognition constantly reviewed

PA Wellington The Government was keeping in close touch with all friendly Governments concerned about the problem of Indo-China, said the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) yesterday. “Consultations on the subject are going on all the time between Wellington and Canberra,” he said. “We have had no confirmation of the suggestion that Australia will withdraw its recognition of the Pol Pot regime in the near future. “The Government’s policy is to support the A.S.E.A.N. countries in a difficult situation which is not of their making. They are directly affected by the war in Kampuchea, and we attach the highest importance to our relationship with them.” During Mr Taiboys’ recent tour of South-East Asia, he had said that before taking any major foreign policy step relating to South-East Asia New Zealand would consult the A.S.E.A.N. Governments. Mt Muldoon said the

Government would continue to exchange views with the A.S.E.A.N. Governments. as well as those of Australia, the United States and other friendly countries concerned with Indo-China. “Our aim is to maintain the common approach reflected in the resolution on Kampuchea adopted last week by the United Nations General Assembly,” he said. “That resolution, which was supported by 90 countries besides New Zealand, called on Vietnam to withdraw its forces from Kampuchea and to let the people of Kampuchea decide their own future,” said Mr Muldoon. In Canberra, the Australian Foreign Minister (Mr Andrew Peacock) said yesterday that his Government was constantly reviewing its recognition of the Pol Pot regime. However he said he was not yet prepared to recommend that Australia revoke its recognition of Pol Pot’s government.

He was answering a question by the Victorian

Liberal, Mr Peter Falconer, who said many Australians were concerned about Australia’s recent support of the acceptance of a Pol Pot delegation’s credentials as Kampuchean representatives in the United Nations. Mr Peacock said the question of recognition was different from that of credentials. “If you are not to accept the credentials of a given State you must point to another State which has better credentials,” he said. He asked whether people would rather have Australia accept the credentials of representatives of the 200,000 Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea. He said the Heng Samrin regime had little influence outside Phnom Penh, with the rest of the country controlled either by Vietnam or Pol Pot and under pressure from Vietnam. Recognition had been given the present regime by the previous Whitlam Labour Government “in what can only be described as dubious circumstances,” Mr Peacock said.