Vanuatu and Algeria

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 16

Vanuatu and Algeria

Vanuatu has not been sparing in its offers to establish diplomatic relations with other countries. Last year it made offers to about 30 countries. The latest to accept is Algeria. Libya and the Soviet Union have already accepted. Diplomacy has not become a major industry in Vanuatu; only the British, the Australians, and the French have representatives there. The other countries have accreditations from posts elsewhere. Vanuatu has very few diplomatic posts of its own and uses its Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs as roving ambassadors.

Algeria is an important member of the Non-Aligned Movement and Vanuatu is the only member of the Non-Aligned Movement in the South Pacific. On the whole, the South Pacific has been without much of the marked politicisation associated with the Non-Aligned Movement. The emphasis given by Vanuatu to its membership may change some of that.

The extent to which Father Walter Lini, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, will exert influence in the South Pacific is difficult to

judge. This may become clearer after meetings which are at present being held in Papua New Guinea. The three Melanesian members of the South Pacific Forum, Vanuatu, the Solomons, and Papua New Guinea, have been holding talks before the South Pacific Forum meeting, which will be held in Fiji next month. It is unusual for one grouping within the South Pacific Forum to hold talks before the conference. The purpose of the Papua New Guinea meeting is to attempt to sort out a Melanesian perspective on the matters before the South Pacific Forum. Both the Foreign Ministers and the Prime Ministers of the three countries are attending the talks. The most contentious issues before the Forum meeting are the independence of New Caledonia, nuclear testing in the Pacific, the proposed Nuclear-Free Zone in the South Pacific, and environmental protection. It must be hoped that Father Lini will continue to bring a Pacific perspective to these issues, not the doctrines of the Non-Aligned Movement.