Question Videla, P.M. urged

Press, 11 June 1980, Page 2

Question Videla, P.M. urged

PA Wellington A senior Labour member of Parliament yesterday urged the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to question the visiting President of Argentina (Lieutenant-General Jorge Rafael Videla) about human rights in his country when the leaders meet in Auckland tomorrow morning. Mr J. L. Hunt (New Lynn), the senior Opposition Whip, made the request when he spoke in the Address-in-Reply debate in Parliament. He said Mr Muldoon should question the President on the number of people who had disappeared in Argentina since the Videla Government took over. “Life or death in the Ar-

gentine is now the subject of government whim,” Mr Hunt said. President Videla is due at Auckland today from Shanghai, after a visit to China. He will leave fox Buenos Aires tomorrow. Mr Muldoon will return late today from his overseas trip. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) yesterday said Mr Muldoon would have “some discussion” with the President.

Mr Taiboys would have “conversations” with the Argentinian Foreign Minister (Air Vice-Marshal Carles Washington Pastor) who is accompanying the President. Mr Taiboys said the New Zealand Government was pleased to welcome President Videla as its guest.

“New Zealand has nevor had close relations with Argentina, either in the political or in the economic field,” Mr Taiboys said. “We have, however, a number of interests in common, partly because our economies are similar, and New Zealand’s exports to Argentina have increased recently, though the longerterm possibilities are limited by those very similarities. “The two countries are both signatories of the Antarctic Treaty, and have worked closely in the context of the Law of the Sea conference. We share an interest in liberalising access to world markets for beef and wool.