PM 'really stood up big' after US attack

By FRANCESCA MOLD

A senior United States official has praised Prime Minister Helen Clark's response to the terrorist attacks, saying she "really stood up big".

Stung by accusations from National leader Jenny Shipley that the US felt New Zealand had responded slowly to the crisis, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff quoted positive comments made by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during a meeting in New York last week.

Mr Goff said Mr Armitage had described the US as absolutely thrilled with New Zealand's reaction to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

"There is no truth whatsoever in the allegations that New Zealand has been slow or reluctant in the support we are giving to the international campaign against terrorism," said Mr Goff.

"What really worries me is when a leader of the Opposition goes around the world saying she's hearing these perceptions of an inadequate response and then contributes to them without setting the record straight."

Mrs Shipley, who has just returned from a trip to Finland, Paris and New York, said she was shocked by the perception overseas that New Zealand had not shown its support for the United States immediately after the attacks.

She said New Zealand business people based in America felt the country had fallen short of what would traditionally have been expected of it.

But Mr Goff said there was no hint of criticism from the US Administration of the steps New Zealand had taken.

He had contacted NZ officials in New York within two hours of the terrorist strike to express support for the US.

"We were also one of the first to make a pledge of military support should it be needed," said Mr Goff.

He said traditionally political parties had maintained a united stance when it came to threats to international security and while in Opposition the Labour Party had supported decisions made in terms of Bosnia and East Timor.

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

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