Strong interest in 200-mile dispute

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 6

Strong interest in 200-mile dispute

From

KEN COATES

in Funafuti New Zealand has a strong interest in a South Pacific Forum call for agreement with the United States on recognition of 200-mile exclusive economic zones at sea. The Forum sees longterm solution of the dispute between the Solomon Islands and the United States, over the seizing of the American fishing boat Jeannette Diane as a multilateral agreement. Negotiations seeking this will begin in Suva next month. The consequences of the seizing of the purse-seiner fishing illegally in the Solomon Islands’ economic zone and the American reaction of applying an economic embargo, were unacceptable to New Zealand, said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange. The United States should not be isolated in its unwarranted view that it could determine what exclusive economic zones were, if vessels were chasing migratory fish.

“New Zealand’s position is not one of distant concern,” said Mr Lnge. “We must have regard to our interests.”

The seizing could have been in New Zealand’s own economic zone.

“We could have been in the position of seizure negotiation, and even in the awful situation of having an economic embargo placed on us.”

He regarded a bilateral settlement between the Solomons and the United States as inadequate because it did not prevent further incidents, possibly involving other countries. Mr Lange said New Zealand’s initiative over the independence issue in New Caledonia meant a significant shift in the approach of the Forum which had a history of “barking at the French.”

“We have to keep both parties talking to each other and look to a speedier solution,” he said. Therefore New Zealand urged sending a special delegation to speak to the Independent Front and to

the French. This would be set up at Ministerial level and would be representative of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.

The Rev. Walter Lini, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, said by not moving towards “reinscription” of New Caledonia on the list of territories under discussion by the United Nations committee of 24, the Forum had destroyed any possibility of a peaceful solution of the independence issue. Hr regards violence and revolution as inevitable, particularly with a united boycott of elections to be held soon. As a result of a decision by the Forum to consider the special problems of small island countries, it is likely New Zealand will consider moving its aid targets in the region. Mr Lange said that large countries such as Fiji and Western Samoa could meet the criteria laid down for aid by international agencies. Smaller countries could not even when they were the more deserving.