Soviet ship denied port

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 18

Soviet ship denied port

PA Wellington A Soviet research ship has been refused permission to visit Auckland “because of national security,” the “New Zealand Herald” reported yesterday. The Adkadamik Oparin docked in Wellington on Tuesday night, but the move to refuse entry into Auckland has angered scientists and researchers on board.

The team had planned to spend two weeks collecting specimens from New Zealand waters which couid be used to find a cure for cancer. The Government refused to discuss the ship’s visit but has indicated that security reasons were behind the move to refusal to allow berthing at any port other than Wellington.

An Auckland scientist working with the SovietAmerican team, Professor Patricia Bergquist, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had concerns about the ship’s role.

She said in a message to the Soviets on board that: “It appears that because there is a naval base in Auckland harbour — not much of a Navy though — Russian vessels are not allowed to visit.

“I was told this very clearly by Foreign Affairs. I find this bizarre and will communicate my thoughts to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, said: “The Government never comments on issues which fall into the area of national security.”

A spokesman for the Soviet scientists, Professor Marat Karpeisky, also denied the spying suggestions. “That is stupid, absolutely stupid because you should understand if we had such equipment it would be easily detected and we would ruin everything. No sane person would do that.”

He said the ship’s scientific equipment was to have been used to analyse samples of sponges and other invertebrates in a bid to find substances which could fight viruses and cancer.

The crew would not say if they would lodge a formal complaint with the New Zealand Government.

The ship is due to leave Wellington tonight for Australia.