N.Z. votes against Falklands motion

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 3

N.Z. votes against Falklands motion

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington New Zealand has voted against an Argentine-spon-sored resolution on the Falkland Islands question in the United Nations. The resolution was, nonetheless, adopted by a vote of 89 in favour, nine against, and 54 abstentions.

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr O’Flynn, said afterwards that the Government had weighed 'the matter very carefully. Everyone would like to see progress on the Falklands question, he .said.

Indeed, New Zealand hoped to see soon a resumption of the talks between the Governments of Britain and Argentina on the issues which continued to divide them. It was hoped that there could be some substantial movement next year. But Mr O’Flynn said that while Argentina had been prepared to revise the text of the resolution it had first prepared to make it more generally acceptable, in the final version important elements had remained unchanged. A key element from the New Zealand viewpoint had been the reference to the interests of the Falkland Islanders. This fell short of acknowledging the rights of the islanders to be involved in determining their own future, he said.

This was a fundamental principle which New Zealand had supported in the decolonisation of the South Pacific and which it had to continue to follow.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has sent a message to President Alfonsin of Argentina explaining New Zealand’s position. The president had been assured that the New Zealand position on the resolution meant no lessening of regard and friendly feelings for Argentina; or of the Government’s wish to build on and to further, the cooperative relationship that now existed between two countries. > The Press Association reports that the latest resolution, like the previous ones, urges Britain and Argentina “to resume negotiations in

order to find as soon as possible a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute.” But in an effort to meet British objections, this year’s version added that a solution also should be sought - for “their remaining differences relating to the question of the Falkland Islands.” The United Nations Secre-tary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, of Peru is asked to continue using his “good offices” to bring the two ; sides to the 1 negotiating table.; The ’ resolution ’ was sponsored by Argentina and 19 other Latin American countries.