Libya talks called

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 1

Libya talks called

NZPA-Reuter Port Moresby Papua New Guinda anaounced yesterday that it weald held a summit meetlag of three Melaaeslaa South Pacific Island States to discuss (rowing discord ovsr Libya’s interest in the region. The Prime Minister, Paias Wingti, said the May 21 meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, would try to find common ground on the issue.

The Libyan question, which has soured relations between Australia and Vanuatu, is expected to be a thorny topic at the meeting of the 13-nation South Pacific Forum ia Western Samoa on May 21 and St.

“We cannot allow the question of Libya’s interest in the region to divide members of the South Pacific Forum,” Mr Wingti said.

Vanuatu announced a ban on all Australian warships and aircraft in protest against Canberra’s opposition to its growing links with Libya. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, the Rev. Walter Link has also said that any attempt to raise his country’s Libyan connection at the South Pacific Forum would lead to the collapse of the regional grouping. Australian officials said Libya might use Vanuatu as a base to support dissident groups in the South Pacific, particularly in the French territory of New Caledonia. . The French J Overseas Territories Minister, Bernard Pons, who Is in Noumea on a five-day visit, said France was worried about contacts between Libya and members of the Kanak independence movement on New Caledonia. •*•••• _ A spokesman !or the rebel wWww sian rule in Irian Jaya, told reporters that some of its members were .undergoing guerrilla training in Libya. He refused to give details of training or recruitment methods