Soviet relations with Tonga

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 16

Soviet relations with Tonga

The visit to Nukualofa, capital of Tonga, by two members of the staff of the Soviet Embassy in Wellington about three weeks., ago, appears to have been a routine one. The Soviet Embassy in Wellington is accredited to Tonga and no Soviet staff are resident in Tonga. Embassy staffs customarily visit the areas of their cross creditation at least once a year. Because the Soviet Union has not had an Ambassador in New Zealand since Mr N. V. Sofinsky was expelled early last year, routine visits have been delayed. This was, in fact, the first visit by embassy staff to Tonga since Mr Sofinsky left Wellington. The two people who went were Mr A. G. Botov, a first secretary, and Mr N. A. Chatskikh. a counsellor, who rank fourth and third in the embassy respectively.

Fears of Soviet intentions in Tonga were at thejr height in 1976 when it was believed that 1 Tonga might accept Soviet facilities in Tonga. In the negotiations between New Zealand, and the Soviet Union

over fishing rights in -1978, Soviet fishermen were granted the right, along with other foreign fishermen, to have their vessels serviced in New Zealand. Exchanges of crews were also permitted. The granting of servicing in New Zealand was a sensible move that, at a stroke, did away with the suggestion that the Soviet Union, needed its own facilities in the Pacific area. Between 1978 and until Mr Sofinsky was expelled, there was little official contact between Tonga and the Soviet Union. Mr Sofinsky, during his brief stay in New Zealand, made a trip to Tonga to present his credentials. The influence of the'Great Powers in the Pacific must always be of interest to New Zealand, but the Soviet Union is unlikely to be tempted to match the American presence, which is widely accepted throughout the Pacific. The Soviet Union will be tempted, on the other hand, to match the presence of China. At the moment,, any’ cause for concern about Soviet machinations in, the Kingdom of Tonga seems fairly slight.