Ministers differ on sanctions

Press, 30 May 1989, Page 2

Ministers differ on sanctions

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

Proposals for tougher sanctions on South Africa seem to divide the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, and his senior, the Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore.

Mr Marshall is preparing a paper for the Cabinet on tougher measures against South Africa. It is believed the paper will advocate New Zealand promote a call at October’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting for fuller sanctions against South Africa. Late last year, the Southern Africa advisory committee, appointed by Mr Marshall, recommended New Zealand impose complete sanctions.

Mr Marshall called for information on the sanctions regime imosed by the Nordic countries against South Africa.

He said at the time that the Commonwealth ought to catch up with the Nordic policy.

The Commonwealth’s sanctions regime ended the import of steel, iron,

and mineral raw materials from South Africa, and the export of armaments and oil.

Only goods such as some pharmaceuticals and humanitarian equipment escape the Nordic ban on trade with South Africa.

Mr Marshall’s office said last evening that he was preparing a paper for the Cabinet, before a meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers, to be held in Canberra in July. It will discuss the issue of sanctions against South Africa. Only last Sunday, Mr Moore had advocated a more cautious policy on sanctions. In an address to the week-end’s human rights conference in Wellington, he said that it would take the “heaviest” of reasons

to make him want to stop New Zealand exporting anywhere. Mr Moore made clear that there was a place for trade sanctions. New Zealand would continue to implement all measures against South Africa recommended by the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

He seemed to suggest however, that both he and Mr Lange were reluctant to promote tougher sanctions against South Africa.

“As the Prime Minister has said, we would be prepared to move to mandatory and comprehensive sanctions if such a move was agreed by the international community,” he said. “But decisions on sanctions are complex ones, and must be the subject of careful consideration.”