French N-test defence ‘cuts no ice with N.Z.’

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 1

French N-test defence ‘cuts no ice with N.Z.’

PA Wellington The latest defence by the French Prime Minister, Mr Michel Rocard, of his country’s nuclear tests in the Pacific “cuts no ice” with New Zealand, the Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, said yesterday. Responding to Mr Rocard’s reaffirmation in Australia at the week-end of France’s commitment, to its testing programme, Mr Palmer said the French Prime Minister had made some progress on the issue, but not enough. “He has reduced their level of testing by 25 per cent and that’s welcome. It’s a step in the right direction, but the New Zealand Government’s position is absolutely plain — that we favour no testing.” During his brief visit to Australia Mr Rocard said France could not renounce the programme, which it ■ conducted

“with extreme caution” for the environment.

He also promised that France would abide by the result of the United Nations arbitration over the future of the repatriated Rainbow Warrior saboteurs, Alain Mafart and Dominique, Prieur, and predicted relations between Paris and Wellington would pick up once that was settled.

Mr Palmer welcomed Mr Rocard’s conciliatory approach, saying New Zealand-French relations had thawed since he became France’s Prime Minister more than a year ago. Submitting the dispute to arbitration had allowed the two countries to develop their relationship on other fronts, Mr Palmer said. He thought it would be a good idea to invite Mr Rocard — who visited New Zealand in January, 1985, as Minister of Agriculture — back once the Rainbow

Warrior arbitration was out of the way. “But one of the things I suggested to Mr Rocard when I saw him in New Caledonia (in May) was that he might consider actually going to Antarctica. And of course we’re the gateway to that. And he may be able to combine a visit to Antarctica with us in due course.”

Mr Rocard was a man Mr Palmer knew well and greatly respected. There were “some strange, interesting, personal factors” in his dealings with New Zealand.

“David Lange once gave him a very nice New Zealand sweater which he went yachting in in France on holiday and he mentioned to me in The Hague (environmental summit earlier this year) -that it was worn out. So I sent him another one,” Mr Palmer said.