Early release of French pair ruled out

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 4

Early release of French pair ruled out

PA Wellington The Prime. Minister, Mr Lange, said yesterday that he would have to look realistically at any proposal to have the two convicted French agents involved in the Rainbow Warrior bombing held in custody in France. Any such proposal would have to contain guarantees they would be held in prison and not given their freedom, Mr Lange said, but he thought it was totally unrealistic to consider any form of release for the agents soon. Major Alain Mafart and Captain Dominique Prieur are serving 10-year jail sen-

fences for their part in the July 10 bombing in Auckland Harbour. Mr Lange made his remarks during questioning on the reparation talks between New Zealand and French officials in New York last week. The talks have now been adjourned until next year. Mr Lange said there was an emphatic underlying mandate to New Zealand’s negotiating team that the release to freedom of the two prisoners was not part of the agenda. However, the French had raised the matter.

“I am saying from the New Zealand point of view there is no such negotiation

of release to freedom,” Mr Lange said. “They will be having Christmas dinner in New Zealand. So will I.” Asked if it would be possible to negotiate a release, of the agents to custody in France, Mr Lange said he did not think such a move would be possible. The New Zealand Government’s stand on the release of the prisoners had caused a “very considerable dampener” on the reparation talks which would take a long time to conclude, he said.

“When everyone said they wouldn’t resume again they did, so we ought not to give up yet”