N.Z. criticises E.E.C.

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 1

N.Z. criticises E.E.C.

PA Wellington The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Cooper, has issued a strongly worded statement criticising the E.E.C.’s credibility after its failure to approve New Zealand’s 1983 butter quota. He said the E.E.C. was being prevented from honouring a commitment to New Zealand by the failure of its Council of Agriculture Ministers formally to approve the quota. This, he said, “must raise questions internationally about the Commumity’s

credibility as a trading partner.” Last October, the council decided that New Zealand would be allowed to send 87,000 tonnes of butter to the E.E.C. However, a meeting yesterday and the day before failed formally to approve the quota, granting access only to the end of March. The formal approval of the quota was blocked by France and Ireland who wanted the resumption of sales of butter to the Soviet Union. They were halted after the

Russians’ intervention in Afghanistan. Mr Cooper said that the latest development was “a continuing frustration.” “We now look to the March meetings' to see that the New Zealand butter decision, already agreed to by the Ministers of Agriculture of the 10 member States, is formally adopted so that our regular butter export trade can continue,” Mr Cooper said. Butter blocked, page 2