Usefulness of A.N.Z.U.S. pact ‘confirmed’

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 6

Usefulness of A.N.Z.U.S. pact ‘confirmed’

PA / Wellington I The usefulness of. -the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance.foemem : , ber nations, —‘the - United ■ States. Australia, and 'New Zealand — was confirmed by... its durability, the American" Secretary of StateiVMr Alex- , andecJlaig, said yesterday; ‘ Irj /brief statement at /Wellington Airport after 1 his arrival for a A.N.Z.U.S. Council meeting. Mr Haig said-',.) that A.N.Z.U.S. was a durable trilateral relationship designed to integrate aqd.;,coordinate foreign and'security, policies of the three’ countries. ' ':/ ’’ "By its very durability it has confirmed its utility." he said. ' '' Mi; Haig was met first- at Ohake’a Air Force Base by- : the’ Minister of Defence Thomson). ■ / TherSecretary of State had - ffo'wri, from /Manila, where he / attended .a: series of talks , with Foreign Ministers of the. five-member Association of South-East.-'Asian Nations (A.S.E.A:N.) — Singapore. In- / donesia. Thailand. Malaysia,, and the Philippines. . i

He later left for Wellington Airport on a New Zealand Government aircraft. .His /arrival there /was majrked by a small group demonstrating against : United,States, policy towards El Salvador. ' v - ‘ Journalists and others waiting for. Mr Haig at the airport' • were subjected to f tight security precautions. One photographer said that it.-was .the-most stringent security check he had .encountered in" 16 years of photographing overseas dignitaries in New Zealand) including visits by Royalty and American presidents. Camera - equipment was closely - inspected before photographers could enter the international terminal lounge where Mr Haig read ; his statement. Flashlights were taken apart), a security man closely examined the view-finder of cameras, and bags were put through X-rhy machines. ; The A.N.Z.U.S. Council meeting will begin tomor-) row. It is expected that the meeting will last for a total of 36 hours.