Italy will support N.Z.’s battle for E.E.C. access

Press, 10 December 1979, Page 1

Italy will support N.Z.’s battle for E.E.C. access

NZPA Athens The Italian Government has pledged to support New Zealand’s battle for access in the next decade and beyond to E.E.C. butter and lamb markets, during its presidency of the European Communitv Council of Ministers.

The Italian Prime Minister (Mr Francesco Cossiga) has said that Italy’s support for New Zealand, which was so helpful when the original terms of access were negotiated in 1971, would continue. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Trade (Mr Taiboys) scored a diplomatic coup at the week-end by even managing to get to see the beleaguered Italian leader. Mr Taiboys had attempted to see Mr Cossiga

ever since he arrived in Rome on Thursday, but the Italian Prime Minister, fighting for the survival of his fragile Government in the teeth of an oil revenues scandal, was unable to meet him. Plans for a meeting before the New Zealand delegation left for Greece had actually been abandoned when Mr Taiboys learned that Mr Cossiga would see him for 15 minutes on his

way to Rome Airport. In the event the meeting lasted an hour, and Mr Taiboys arrived to join the rest of his party only minutes before his flight was due to leave for Athens. Mr Cossiga made his country’s stance very clear: “Italy’s understanding of your country’s need will not be changed as we assume the presidency,” he said. “Our support will not be lacking during that presidency.” Mr Cossiga did not talk

about specific tonnages, prices, and terms, but the over-all message was more clear than it has been anywhere else on Mr Talboys’s present trip round the capitals of Europe, Italy, lacking any direct interest itself in the problems of lamb or more importantly, butter, would use its best offices to try to limit any reduction in New Zealand’s European market. Italy is regarded as New Zealand’s third best friend within the E.E.C. after Britain and West Germany. Mr Taiboys was ob-

viously impressed by the good will that lay behind the willingness of Mr Cossiga to see him. “The thing that struck me was that a man who had spent three days under such pressure that his Ministers had been unable to see him and his family had seen him only on television, had taken the trouble to' brief himself fully,” Mr Taiboys said. He said that he had told Mr Cossiga that the political realities which European Farm Ministers have said would require sacrifices from New Zealand would mean economic difficulties for New Zealand, and that the sacrifices had already been made.

“I told him that a few thousand tonnes of butter makes a lot of difference to New Zealand when we have to compete against subsidised Community exports in third markets, and it will not make any significant difference as far as Europe’s domestic problems are concerned,” Mr Taiboys said. After the meeting, Mr Taiboys left for Greece, where he got his biggest welcome so far.

Greece will formally join the European Community on January 1, 1981, coincidentally the same day that New Zealand’s present butter access agreement expires, and Mr Taiboys will wish to ensure that the Greeks are fully informed about New Zealand’s relationship with the E.E.C.

The New Zealand party was met at Athens Airport by an armed guard of honour of the Greek Air Force, and was taken to a luxurious beach hotel away from the noise and pollution of Athens itself, where Mr Taiboys will spend three days as a guest of the Government. Local newspapers have recorded his impending visit, and the New Zealand flag was flying cutside his hotel.