Soviet airline wants in

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 2

Soviet airline wants in

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The Soviet Union has resumed its efforts to get landing rights in New Zealand for its airline, Aeroflot In its briefing papers to the Government the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported it was being put under pressure by the Soviet Union to support access here for Aeroflot. The Soviet delegation at bilateral talks this year, and in discussions with the Minister of Fisheries, Mr Moyle, had indicated that its fishing in New Zealand waters was commercially marginal. The Russians said their continued presence in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone was being assessed. “A major plug followed for Aeroflot to be given

landing rights for chartered flights of replacement crew as a condition for its fleet carrying out its servicing and maintenance here,” the papers said. New Zealand had a hefty trade surplus with the Soviet Union and the foreign exchange earnings gained from fishing in the zone provided an incentive to retain the Soviet presence. The gain from servicing work and possible investment in dry dock facilities in Wellington would be useful, the papers said, but questions of national security and foreign relations had to date been over-riding considerations. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said the Government’s position on Aeroflot had not changed since a similar approach had been made by the Soviet

Union in late 1984. The Russians had claimed then that a plaq to set up maintenance and repair services at Nelson for the Soviet fishing fleet in the Pacific had foundered because the Government would not give landing rights to Aeroflot for regular charter flights to bring seamen to New Zealand. The Government considered, as had the previous National Government, that the capacity on existing services was adequate to carry Soviet fishermen working in the exclusive economic zone, Mr Lange said. Air New Zealand was ready to discuss with the Soviet authorities interairline arrangements for the transport of Soviet seamen here. Other nations fishing in New Zealand waters used existing airlines.