N.Z.’s help 'well received’

Press, 19 December 1989, Page 6

N.Z.’s help 'well received’

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

New Zealand’s package of assistance to Eastern Europe was well received, said the Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore, who returned from Europe yesterday. Mr Moore had been to a meeting of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, the group of Western nations which has pledged to help post-Berlin Wall Eastern European countries. A $1 million package of agricultural expertise, training opportunities and trade promotion was

announced by the Government earlier this month. Also, it is guaranteeing New Zealand exporters up to $lOO million a year in trade credit for exports to Poland and Hungary. Mr Moore said the package was modest but appropriate. New Zealand wanted to see a wealthy, growing Eastern Europe. Countries such as Poland, with 800 per cent annual inflation, were in desperate economic trouble. “Poland is a basket-case in every sense of the word,” said Mr Moore. He reiterated his concern that

Western Europe may pass onto Eastern neighbours the protected agricultural policies New Zealand opposes. There are fears that the European Community may focus on an expanded European market, rather than reforming international trade rules in the present G.A.T.T. round. “There are dangers of the Europeans becoming mesmerised by themselves,” said Mr Moore. He returned to New Zealand via Washington, where he held talks with United States trade officials.