Door open on wider role in terror war

27 Mar, 2002 12:51 PM3 mins to read

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

The Prime Minister is not ruling out extending New Zealand's contribution to the war on terrorism beyond the borders of Afghanistan.

Following her "warm and very positive" talks with the Bush Administration in Washington yesterday, Helen Clark said there was a risk that a crackdown on terrorists in one country would see them disperse elsewhere.

"Obviously, the United States is watching very carefully," she said, noting that the anti-terrorism campaign had occupied a large chunk of her 50-minute Oval Office meeting with President George W. Bush.

But any New Zealand military contribution outside Afghanistan would hinge on a link being made to those responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"If those people re-formed somewhere else to carry on doing the same sort of thing, then we would likely show an interest," Helen Clark said.

"But we don't have that evidence before us right now.

"It would be unfortunate if another failed state were to end up with al Qaeda operating freely the way they were in Afghanistan.

"Obviously there is also concern about how the next wave of terrorist activity might ratchet up to weapons of mass destruction - chemical, biological and nuclear."

Saying it was time for New Zealand to forge a new relationship with the US for the 21st century, she cast differences over nuclear policy as carrying the same bilateral significance as New Zealand's argument with Japan over whaling.

In none of her meetings at the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House had the policy become the dominant issue.

Despite the ambiguity inherent in New Zealand troops operating alongside American forces in Afghanistan, however, the longstanding US-imposed ban on joint training exercises was an issue "for another day".

In other developments flowing from her talks in Washington, the Prime Minister revealed:

* A "significant proportion" of the country's SAS troops are serving in Afghanistan at any one time. She would not give exact numbers, but it is thought she is talking of between 50 and 80 soldiers.

* More hints of progress towards starting the negotiation of a New Zealand-US free trade agreement might emerge following a meeting in May between Trade Minister Jim Sutton and his American equivalent, Robert Zoellick.

* She has invited President Bush to visit New Zealand.

* A $200,000 increase to $500,000 in the Government's contribution to the Fulbright exchange scheme for postgraduate students and research scholars to and from the US. At present, the programme supports about 50 students every year - 25 New Zealanders and 25 Americans.

* The two countries signed a bilateral aviation safety agreement which she said would benefit New Zealand's aircraft manufacturing and maintenance industry.

"New Zealand is the first country in the Southern Hemisphere to have achieved such an agreement with the US."

Story archives: