U.S. target at forum

Press, 11 August 1982, Page 1

U.S. target at forum

From OLIVER RIDDELL in Rotorua The anger of leaders attending the South Pacific Forum in Rotorua at the failure of the United States to accede to the Law of the Sea conventions was made clear in the forum's final communique.

Many of the 13 leaders attending the forum saw the issue of who controlled migratory species' passing through their 200-mile economic zones as critical to their economic future.

The communique expressed concern about the failure of the United States to sign or become a party to the conventions. It hoped that other developed States did not adopt a similar stance. The communique also noted that the United States, within its fisheries zone, asserted its right over the

highly migratory billfish.

Close co-operation in fisheries is evident among the forum members and among the Federated States of Micronesia,. which gained the permission of the United States to. join the forum fisheries convention. Forum members have developed close relationships with distant fishing nations — notably Japan, South Korea, and Russia which recognise their sovereign rights over all highly migratory species, such as tuna.

They were concerned about the serious implications of the United States policy on highly migratory species for its wider relationship with forum members.

They were “gravely concerned” about the response of the United States to the

actions taken by one forum member in protecting the resources of its fisheries zone. This refers to the case earlier this year when Papua New Guinea seized an -$8 million United States tuna boat within its 200-mile zone. The United States threatened reprisals. The communique expressed regret that the United States had not yet recognised the exclusive right'of forum members to exploit highly migratory fish within their fisheries zones. A revision of that policy was urged. There was also anger at the tactic, adopted mainly by Japan, linking aid to forum countries with securing access to their fisheries. Forum members were aware of the importance of fish to their economies, and considered it essential that these resources produced the maximum benefit for their peoples, but noted the importance of aid to the development of’their economies.

The increasing tendency ol distant fishing nations to link the granting of aid with fisheries access was not acceptable, the forum said.

The President of Kiribati. Mr leremia Tabai, said the linking was being used as a lever in negotiations. The other main issue ended with a communique that welcomed French Government reforms in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

Last year’s forum host, Vanuatu, had made a strong bid to persuade other members that the case for, independence for New Caledonia should be taken to the United Nations. Vanuatu gained its own independence in 1980, after being jointly administered as the New Hebrides by France and Britain. ■ But the communique confirmed a statement by the forum’s chairman, the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), that the only nation in favour of Vanuatu’s draft resolution was Vanuatu.

Instead the communique “expresses the hope that it (France) will continue the reform process and give priority to declaring its intentions on the territory’s future political status.” Further reports, Pages 3 and 4.