International law expert wanted

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 1

International law expert wanted

PA Wellington The Government is looking for an international law expert with a high standing in the legal arena as its Rainbow Warrior international arbitration tribunal member. A spokeswoman for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, said yesterday that the Government’s nomination for the tribunal was. likely to be a New Zealander. The person was not likely , to be a politician or diplomat. She said New Zealand had not formally heard back from the French over the decision to take the dispute over the Rainbow Warrior bombers to arbitration. However, Mr Marshall told the French Foreign Minister, Mr Roland Dumas, of New Zealand’s, decision by telephone on Thursday night. Mr Dumas’s reaction was that he "accepted it with regret,” the spokeswoman said. New Zealand’s Ambassador to France, Ms Judith Trotter, personally delivered the written request for the matter to go to arbitration. The spokeswoman said there were many technical and legal issues to sort out before the Government chose its tribunal member. Under the original agreement worked out by the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar, that saw Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur sent to Hao Atoll, the tribunal will have three members. France and New Zealand will choose one member each within

30 days and then together choose a chairman. If this is not done, then Mr de Cuellar will choose the tribunal’s members. Mr Marshall and the Minister of External Relations and International Trade, Mr Moore, are to visit Europe next week. The spokeswoman said Mr Marshall did not think the decision to go to arbitration would affect New Zealand’s chances of extending its butter and lamb access to Europe. The man who succeeded in taking France to the international court over nuclear testing in the Pacific, a former Minister of Justice, Dr Martyn Finlay, is interested in being New Zealand’s representative.

He said he had not been approached by the Government to be its representative but would be interested if approached. Dr Finlay was successful in taking France to - the international court at The Hague in 1973 and 1974 over its atmospheric testing of nuclear devices at Mururoa Atoll. The retired Queen’s Counsel said he hoped he still had some standing in the legal community. Mr Marshall said the person would also need knowledge in international law. Dr Finlay said New Zealand did not have much choice but to go to international arbitration, as it appeared the country had reached “the end of the diplomatic road.” The French Defence Minister, Mr Jean-Pierre Chevenement, said yesterday he still hoped France and New Zealand could reach a diplomatic solution. He was speaking in Paris hours after Mr Marshall announced New Zealand was taking France to international arbitration. “I think New Zealand should bear in mind that the Government in France has changed,” Mr Chevenement, referring to the Socialist victory in the May General Election, told a news conference. z “Our countries are friends and allies, and I think there should be a way to bring this friendship to the fore. I hope for a diplomatic solution which will respect both sides. But this, will need a lot of delicacy.” Mr Marshall said that New Zealand had “reached the end of the road in its direct talks” with France.