Saboteur in exchange for lamb,butter?

Press, 15 January 1988, Page 3

Saboteur in exchange for lamb,butter?

PA Wellington The return home to France of the “Rainbow Warrior” saboteur, Alain Mafart, could open a “small crack in the door” for New Zealand access to European lamb and butter markets, a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said yesterday.

“With butter access, if the European Community perceives France’s attitude is tinged with other issues, for example Mafart, then that would be to New Zealand’s advantage,” he said. “It’s a fairly subtle sort of point.” Mafart, who was confined to Hao for three years for his part in the Rainbow Warrior bombing in 1985, was flown to Paris last month for medical treatment, without the consent of

the New Zealand Government.

The Government had not yet received a final report from the London based New Zealand doctor, Dr Richard Croxon, who examined Mafart, Mr Lange’s spokesman said.

“Dr Croxon has reported to us but only to say that tests were continuing on Mafart, who is still in hospital,” he said. Mr Lange was also still awaiting a reply from the French Prime Minister, Mr Jacques Chirac, on the matter, although diplomats from the two countries had had talks. Mr Lange wrote to Mr Chirac seeking clarification of the reasons for Mafart’s return home and asking for an assurance that Mafart would return to Hao when his health improved.