U.S. co-operation in Antarctic welcomed

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 16

U.S. co-operation in Antarctic welcomed

f3Wellington reporter

Recent indications from the United States that cooperation between New Zealand add the United States on Antarctic matters will not be affected by the disagreement on nuclear ship visits have been welcomed by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Palmer. The Government had received confirmation from the United States Embassy that co-operation would continue as before, Mr Palmer said. The New Zealand Government agreed with the

United States that bilateral co-operation in Antarctica was not a military matter and should not be linked to defence questions. Antarctica was a demilitarised area, a nuclear-free zone, and the only such area in the world. No two countries had as close a relationship in Antarctic matters as New Zealand and the United States, and this reflected the genuine warmth and depth of the bilateral relationship, Mr Palmer said. The Government had made it quite clear that United States personnel,

ships and aircraft associated with the Antarctic programme continued to be most welcome in New Zealand. In this connection, New Zealand had recently renewed normal diplomatic clearances. Mr Palmer also warmly praised the recent decision by the United States to have another look at employment problems at the United States Naval Support Force base in Christchurch. This was a most welcome step, Mr Palmer said, as a gesture of good faith and one which the Government applauded.