KEY POINTS:
WASHINGTON - The United States is still blocking the sale of the Air Force's former fighter jets, though the reason has nothing to do with New Zealand's policies, Defence Minister Phil Goff said today.
An American company wants to buy the 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi jets for $155 million, but the deal cannot be finalised until it has US Government approval.
Mr Goff met US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the Undersecretary of Defence Eric Edelman at the Pentagon today as well as Assistant Secretary of State Christoper Hill. He was told "internal difficulties" were holding up the approval.
"The US acknowledged the problem of approving the transfer lies on internal difficulties on their side and not with New Zealand. They have undertaken to come back to me on whether these difficulties can be resolved soon or whether we need to look at alternatives."
Mr Goff said he could not disclose what the difficulties were.
"It's an in-house thing and not something they want to discuss readily with others."
He said the US officials appreciated New Zealand's position and had said they would come back to him with a reply.
"They want to check on how they can move forward and whether it will happen quickly or if it might be a number of years, in which case we need to think about our options."
He said selling the aircraft to another country might not be straight-forward, given the limited market for the jets, and would require US approval.
The Skyhawks were shelved when the Government axed the Air Force's combat wing in 2001.
Mr Goff updated Mr Gates and National Security Council adviser Stephen Hadley on his recent visit to Afghanistan.
"New Zealand's contribution alongside the American forces there was warmly welcomed and we were thanked for the contribution we were making. I think it is widely regarded the provincial reconstruction team we have there is a model for other international forces."
He also discussed world security and the nuclear weapons situation for Iran and North Korea.
"The common ground since September 11, the impact that had on the world's security has made it a lot of sense to work together on common interests, and examples of that joint approach include Afghanistan and against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."
Mr Goff also held trade talks in Washington before leaving tonight for London and then Paris, where he will take part in the annual OECD ministerial meeting and participate in World Trade Organisation ministerial talks.
- NZPA
