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To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (29991)	10/12/2003 1:36:27 PM
From: Karen Lawrence	Respond to of 89467

US Warning to New Zealand Seen as 'Pique' Over Iraq By Patrick Goodenough CNSNews.com Pacific Rim Bureau Chief October 09, 2003 cnsnews.com Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - The most candid U.S. message in years about the state of its relations with New Zealand was a "fit of pique," according to the former politician most closely linked to the policy at the heart of the dispute. Former prime minister David Lange, whose Labor government in the mid-1980s banned nuclear-powered and armed vessels from docking at New Zealand ports, said in an interview Thursday he remained "proud" of the nuclear ban, and pleased that no government since then has rescinded the legislation. Of the fact Washington was still unhappy about it two decades later, Lange said the U.S. appeared to be annoyed by New Zealand's opposition to the war on Iraq, and was reacting in a "somewhat browbeating fashion." "The United States seem to be aggrieved that we didn't rush off to Iraq at the first opportunity." Lange suggested that it was easy for the U.S. to vent "a fit of pique" at New Zealand, but it was interesting that it hadn't taken the same approach towards European governments that also opposed the war. "[The Americans] haven't said their NATO allies are not worthy of being allies because they stood in their way," the 61-year-old former premier said. The nuclear ban severely strained Wellington's relationship with Washington, effectively removing New Zealand from the ANZUS (Australia-New Zealand-U.S.) defense alliance and downgrading its status from "ally" to "friend." U.S. Ambassador Charles Swindells prepared a speech this week giving the clearest public signal in years that, for the U.S., the issue would not simply go away. Although anti-U.S. protestors prevented him from delivering the speech on a Wellington university campus, Swindells made it public and sent copies to leaders in the left-leaning government. The envoy said that, while the nuclear issue did not define the bilateral relationship, it did come with a price and impeded cooperation in some areas. Swindells urged a re-examination of the issue, and warned that the U.S. was not simply going to "get over it." Many New Zealanders have been hopeful a free-trade agreement with the world's largest economy, and they were distressed when the U.S. opened FTA negotiations with neighboring Australia late last year. Although he said many factors were considered when it came to FTA negotiations, Swindells put to rest any hopes that talks with New Zealand would begin soon. "Trade between us is a strong point in the relationship but ... it is not helpful to unduly raise expectations about an FTA." No change The speech has caused a stir in New Zealand, but Prime Minister Helen Clark ruled out reviewing the nuclear policy. Almost 20 years ago, Clark played a key role in the Lange government's decision to ban nuclear ships. Her foreign minister, Phil Goff, accentuated what he saw as positive elements of the speech, saying it was noteworthy that Swindells had not completely ruled out free trade talks. The small, conservative ACT Party said the government's failure to "move on" was disturbing. It also urged the official opposition, center-right National Party to "get off the fence" and make its position clear on the nuclear issue. Although National has decried the state of New Zealand-U.S. relations, it continues to support a "nuclear-free" status. But National spokesman Jason Ede said Thursday the party was in the midst of a "comprehensive review" of issues relating to bilateral ties, including the nuclear issue. The outcome was expected by early next year. The nuclear ban is widely seen as having initiated the deterioration of ties, but New Zealand and the U.S. have drifted further apart in the years since over foreign policy. The differences have been accentuated by the ever-closer relationship between the U.S. and Australia, especially under conservative Prime Minister John Howard. Howard backed President Bush on Iraq, supported the U.S. at the United Nations, and became only the second leader - after Prime Minister Tony Blair - to send troops to participate in the war. By contrast, Clark opposed the war and sided against Washington at the U.N. In his speech, Swindells made reference to New Zealand's failure to back its traditional allies, the U.S., Britain and Australia, on Iraq. "I tell you frankly that we were saddened by New Zealand's decision not to participate in the liberation of the Iraqi people," he said. 'Safe' Goff, the foreign minister, said the government's stance was "in line with what ordinary New Zealanders feel about nuclear-armed and powered ships." When the public was canvassed on the issue late last year, 43 percent of respondents thought the government should review its policy, while 55 percent disagreed. In 1992, an expert inquiry found that risks from modern nuclear-powered ships entering New Zealand ports would be minimal. Scientists found that more radiation was released into the atmosphere every day by hyper-thyroidism treatment at an Auckland hospital than was released by the entire U.S. nuclear-powered fleet around the world in a year. A member of the inquiry, now-retired Auckland University nuclear physics professor Alan Poletti, said Thursday there had been no evidence in the 11 years since the report was released challenging its findings that it would be safe to allow the ships to visit. Poletti said it was his personal view that the clause in the legislation which bans visits by nuclear-powered ships - as opposed to ships carrying nuclear weapons - should be repealed. "It would remove an impediment between the two countries," he said. "There's no logical reason for leaving it there." The latest monthly opinion poll on voter preferences in New Zealand gives Labor 45 percent and National 29 percent. Of the smaller parties, the Greens stands at seven percent and ACT at five.