Vanuatu P.M. dismisses influence suggestions

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 45

Vanuatu P.M. dismisses influence suggestions

NZPA-Reuter Port Moresby The Vanuatu Prime Minister, the Rev. Walter Lini, dismisses suggestions that his small South Pacific country will fall under Communist influence after establishing diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and Libya. Diplomatic and economic ties with the two countries were initiated in Vanuatu’s national interest, he told a press conference. “We regard it as our sovereign right and con-

sider that Australia and New Zealand have no right to question us,” he said. Vanuatu is a constitutional Christian democracy with customary rather than state ownership of land, principles that “were completely contrary to the . Communist system,” according to Father Lini, an Anglican priest He is in Port Moresby for talks with leaders from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the French territory of New Caledonia ahead of next month’s South Pacific Forum meeting in Fiji. Vanuatu established ties with Libya and the Soviet Union in the last two months, and is negotiating a fishing pact with Mos-

cow and landing rights for the Soviet airline Aeroflot. Other economic arrangements were being considered, including provision of beef for Soviet fishermen, he said. “So I cannot really say what the limit of our involvement will be with the Russians,” Father Lini said. Vanuatu officials said recently when ties with Moscow were announced that the move was in line with Father Lini’s policy of pursuing an active nonaligned and independent course. United States officials in the region have expressed concern about the Soviet and Libyan moves saying the long-term aims of these . countries appeared to be disruptive.