P.N.G. to offer Russians fishing

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 10

P.N.G. to offer Russians fishing

NZPA-AP Port Moresby The Papua New Guinea Government has announced plans to join other small South Pacific nations in negotiating fishing rights with the Soviet Union. The move, announced in Parliament by the Foreign Minister, Mr Legu Vagi, drew an immediate sharp reaction from the Australian Foreign Ministry, which said it would be concerned if shore facilities were used. To date, only Kiribati has a deal with the Soviets. It is re-negotiating an agreement signed last year that pumped SUSI. 7 million ($3.48 million) into its economy. Fiji and Vanuatu have said they are now considering Soviet offers. Mr Vagi said the Government of Paias Wingti

had asked the Forum Fisheries Agency of the South Pacific Forum meeting in Fiji this month to start negotiations on its behalf. He said the Government was aware of Australian and American concerns about Soviet intentions in the South Pacific. “Every independent State has the right to open and develop relations with other countries in accordance with its national interest,” he said. Papua New Guinea has negotiated unsuccessfully with American fisheries companies for rights over one of the country’s few resources.

Australia and the United States repeatedly have said that the Soviets are using fishing rights to improve their surveillance activities in the South

Pacific. Kiribati, Vanuatu, Fiji and now Papua New Guinea argue that they are turning to the Soviets because they are willing to pay promptly and the United States is not.

“The Australians may be concerned but the fact of the matter is we have to develop our marine resources and if the Americans cannot come up with a realistic offer, we just have to look elsewhere,” Mr Vagi said. He said Papua New Guinea was not using the negotiations with the Soviet Union to push the United States into concluding fishing negotiations with the 13-nation South Pacific Forum. “The United States does not seem prepared to assist the Pacific island nations,” he said.