NZ not pressured on Iraq says Goff

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

New Zealand has been officially briefed by the United States on its no-nonsense stance on Iraq but has not been pressured to provide military or moral support, according to Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

The "constructive" exchange of views took place during an hour-long meeting between Mr Goff and the American Ambassador, Charles Swindells, last Thursday.

The meeting was requested by Mr Goff before his visit to New York and Washington over the coming week when he will meet senior Bush Administration officials.

New Zealand is opposed to any unilateral action by the US and Britain to topple President Saddam Hussein and stop him from developing weapons of mass destruction.

Instead, the Prime Minister has mooted possible New Zealand involvement in any UN-sanctioned military action or any subsequent UN peacekeeping force in Iraq.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, however, Helen Clark stressed all diplomatic avenues should be exhausted to get Iraq to comply with UN weapons inspections.

Mr Goff said yesterday that the US ambassador had sought neither military nor moral support for his country's stance on Iraq.

"The United States has a case that it wants to make ... It will be aware that many of its friends and allies have come out explicitly against unilateral military action, not the least of which are Germany and Canada, both members of Nato."

The Prime Minister told Parliament that New Zealand was concerned that unilateral intervention could cause further instability in the Middle East and damage the international coalition that has been built against terrorism.

Asked whether her Government supported armed force to compel Iraq to comply with United Nations' resolutions and sanctions, she replied: "Not at this point. We believe that the diplomatic process should run its course, and that is the opinion of most countries."

Further reading:
Feature: War with Iraq

Iraq links and resources