Soviet threat warning from ambassador

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 5

Soviet threat warning from ambassador

PA Wellington The United States ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Paul Cleveland, has warned that the Soviet Union should not be underestimated, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said there could be closer ties between the countries.

Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce in Auckland yesterday, Mr Cleveland said future world peace depended on “how we assess our potential adversaries, as well as on what we and our allied friends are able to agree upon and do in response.” Mr Lange said yesterday New Zealand and the Soviet Union were discussing a bilateral agreement to govern possible commercial arrangements for servicing Soviet fishing vessels in New Zealand. A report would soon go before Cabinet on the question of whether New Zealand should allow the Soviet airline Aeroflot to land in the country to exchange fishing crews. Mr Cleveland said the Soviet Union was continually trying to split Western allies in the Pacific “with enticing offers ... or with plausible sounding mutual reductions, which amount to transparent ef-

and mischief-making. We must always keep in mind how Soviets negotiate.” Many Americans believed in the “balanced carrot and stick approach” the Regan Administration had taken in reducing tensions with the Soviet Union. It was negotiating from strength. He said N.A.T.0., Japan, Australia and other allies were working closely and effectively with the United States in maintaining security. New Zealand was helping effectively on the international trade issue. “While major domestic change inevitably focuses most Kiwi attention, it is ■important that we all keep a weather-eye on international realities and be involved in the upcoming agenda. “Resolution of these issues will determine the fate of the earth, your small distant portion of it included. “We can be confident, but we cannot be complacent.” .

forts to talk us out of out security strengths.” He said the United States was sceptical about the Soviet Union’s offer to eliminate its naval base at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam in exchange for America getting rid of its two bases in the Philippines. He described the offer as “clearly inequitable