Army joins U.S. talks

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 6

Army joins U.S. talks

DAVE WILSON

New Zealand and the United States are taking part in low-key defence discussions in Hawaii but a New Zealand defence spokesman says it does not signal a thaw in the A.N.Z.U.S. rift. j Three New Zealand Army officers are taking part in the annual Pacific Armies Management

semimr (F.A.M.ij, an : annual defence forum for 26 countries.; Majc r Peter Fry. an Army spokesman at Defence Headquarters, says the forum’s subject matteij is strictly administrative.! “It is a management seminar in which th.e rep preservatives of different armies discuss the procedures in running a big

organisation. No ' operational or strategic subjects are discussed,” he said. The seminars, sponsored by the United States and hosted by different participating nations were described by the director of; defence public relations, Commander Gerry Power, as closed-door discussions.

TAlthough New Zealand has been denied training

opportunities with America under the present nuclear policy, we have always attended the P.A.M.S. sessions,” he said.

“There has not been a complete cut-off in contact with; the United States, but 'although these are closed-door discussions, the participants are not discussing intelligence matters.” i