N.Z. held in high regard

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 26

N.Z. held in high regard

PA Wellington Libya held the New Zealand Government in very high regard and would be disappointed if it sided with the United States on trade sanctions, a Libyan official has said. The secretary of the Libyan People’s Bureau in Australia and New Zealand, Shaban Gashut, said from Canberra: “We have the greatest respect for the Government of Mr Lange and for Mr Lange himself. We don’t think he will differ from these countries who refused to accept the American ban.” Britain and many European countries had refused to introduce trade sanctions against Libya, Mr Gashut said, adding he was confident New Zealand would do likewise. Libya had become America’s No. 1 enemy

when it closed its military bases. New Zealand was in the same position with its stance on anti-nuclear ships and was set to become the No. 2 enemy, he said. Mr Gashut said 46 Islamic countries were backing Libya, and New Zealand traded with many of these. He would not elaborate on what action could be taken if New Zealand sided with the United States. But he said there was bound to be some form of reciprocation — that was politics. Mr Gashut dismissed the allegations of Libya’s involvement with terrorist activities as “malicious American propaganda.” Evidence produced was purely circumstantial, he said. “Libya always denies any involvement in any kind of terrorism. We hang people for hijacking and terrorism.”