Clark keeps silence on pact stance

VIENTIANE - Prime Minister Helen Clark is not ruling out signing a non-aggression pact with the Association of South East Asian Nations that has created tensions between Asean and Australia.

Helen Clark arrived in the Laos capital yesterday ahead of the historic first summit between the 10-member Asean bloc and Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting tonight is expected to agree to trade talks between Asean and New Zealand/Australia.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard picked a diplomatic row with some Asean diplomats by pouring cold water on requests that New Zealand and Australia sign a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation (TAC).

The treaty calls on signatories to commit to "non-interference in the internal affairs of one another", a "renunciation of the threat or use of force" and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Helen Clark said New Zealand's stance on the pact would be announced today but did not indicate that New Zealand's favourable attitude towards the treaty had changed.

Asked about her view on Australia's refusal to sign, Helen Clark replied: "That's a matter for Australia; we determine New Zealand's foreign policy, not Australia's."

Helen Clark said the diplomatic row would not derail talks and the importance of the summit to New Zealand.

The Prime Minister indicated that New Zealand's only concern would be if some saw the TAC as reducing New Zealand's ability to speak out on matters of concern in the Asean region - such as human rights abuses.

"The people of New Zealand expect their leaders to reflect New Zealand values and that is something I will always do," Helen Clark said.

Other countries such as China, Korea, India and Pakistan have signed the TAC and Russia is about to do so.

Helen Clark said other countries had been assured the treaty was not a curb on free speech.

Mr Howard poured fuel on the potential diplomatic fire when he dismissed the TAC as an outdated cold war concept - "the sort of agreement which countries coming out of the Non-Aligned Movement would have signed".

Mr Howard has said he is willing to launch pre-emptive strikes against suspected terrorists in the region.

This has concerned both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Helen Clark said the spat between Australia and Asean would not overshadow the importance of the first ever invitation to Australia to attend Asean and New Zealand's first visit since 1977.

"This is the first opportunity for many, many, many years for us to meet at this level," she said.

"It is of great significance for us and I think you will find that at tomorrow night's summit there will be a number of statements which are very important."

Besides the launch of trade talks with Asean, New Zealand will also announce the finalisation of a trade deal with Thailand and range of initiatives to build links with South- east Asia.

- NZPA