Lauding rights on agenda

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 7

Lauding rights on agenda

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, says he may discuss establishing reciprocal landing rights between New Zealand and the Soviet Union, during a visit to the United Nations next week. During a briefing on the trip, Mr Lange said he expected to meet Mr Shevardnadze during his today trip, although it was not yet confirmed. He said he intended to talk about developments in the Soviet Union such as glasnost, issues of common interest in the Pacific, and matters involving fishing and servicing facilities in New Zealand. Asked about allowing the Russian airline, Aeroflot, landing rights, Mr Lange said the matter was before the Cabinet. Reciprocal arrangements al-

ready existed with the United States, Singapore, Canada and a whole group of nations. “There is no secret there has been open discussion in Australia about such a proposal,” Mr Lange said. Mr Lange said he would also discuss the Soviet proposal to dismantle its base in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam if the United States did the same in the Philippines, but he was pessimistic about the prospects of success, saying such a proposal "does not fit into the normal disarmament equation.” “If you look at the disproportion between the United States in the Philippines and the development in Cam Ranh Bay, I don’t think the United States would regard that as an appropriate trade-off.”