United States ‘petulant’ over A.N.Z.U.S

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 10

United States ‘petulant’ over A.N.Z.U.S

By

TOM BRIDGMAN

NZPA Ottumwa, lowa

The Reagan Administration had been "petulant” in dealing with New Zealand over the A.N.Z.U.S. issue, according to Democrat presidential “hopeful” Michael Dukakis. The fact that New Zealand felt strongly about nuclear weapons “should not trigger the angry and petulant response that took place here,” he said. Mr Dukakis, Governor of Massachusetts, said during a brief interview with N.Z.P.A. while he was campaigning in lowa this week that he believed in the need “to work constructively with friends and neighbours.”

The fact that the United States and New Zealand

had “differences” should not be permitted to destroy or seriously hurt what were wide-ranging fundamental agreements on other issues and basic human values, he said. Mr Dukakis could not be specific about what he would do in relation to the A.N.Z.U.S. break if elected President in November, saying he and his advisers had not directly addressed the “neither confirm- nordeny” United States policy on nuclear weapons at the heart of the dispute. In public statements Mr Dukakis has been strongly in favour of nuclear arms control and backs the removal of intermediate and short range missiles from Europe, is opposed to “star wars,” the Midgetman Missile, antisatellite weaponry and ad-

ditional MX missiles. He would end United States nuclear testing and supports a comprehensive test ban treaty, a proposal New Zealand and Australia have been pushing in the United Nations.

“We should explore every possible opportunity for agreements that will reduce dramatically all nuclear arms, and that will halt the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries,” Mr Dukakis said in a published policy statement. A defence issues adviser to Mr Dukakis said an end to nuclear testing was a high priority, and that once the United States ended nuclear testing Britain would automatically follow suit as its testing was carried out in the United States. A United States Govern-

ment headed by Mr Dukakis could not force France to end nuclear testing but would try and use its influence towards that end, he said. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Mr Lange, would also, once again, be welcome at the White House, the aide said.

In terms of trading interests, New Zealand could be helped by Mr Dukakis reaching the White House.

Because of his Greek background he never ceases to praise lamb as a meat and would like Americans to eat more.

“It’s a wonderful meat,” he told one election meeting.

Although he wants American farmers to produce more lamb, Mr Dukakis said he also believes in free trade.