Australian change on Sinai

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 29

Australian change on Sinai

NZPA Sydney The Australian Cabinet is expected this month to formally renew its commitment to the A.N.Z.A.C. contingent of the Sinai peacekeeping force. The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, has publicly backed continued Australian presence in the force and his Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Hayden, is reported to be preparing a recommen-

dation for the Cabinet. New Zealand has already confirmed its contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers which was bom out of the refusal of the United Nations to provide troops to police the border between Egypt and Israel after the Camp David Agreement. New Zealand has 25 Air Force personnel and two Iroquois helicopters in the and the Australians

have 100 men and eight helicopters. The expected Australian move follows a visit to the Middle East by Mr Hayden last month, but runs directly counter to a resolution from the last Labour Party conference.

The resolution opposes the Sinai commitment and calls for the Australian contingent to be brought home. Reports this week also say Australian

forces have been troubled by the absence of the helicopters which has forced a range of training exercises to be abandoned.

Mr Hayden returned from the Middle East convinced the Australians should stay, and Mr Hawke said in a television interview on Sunday that with the present tension in the region it would be wrong for Australia to add to the tension by withdrawing its force.