[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 STATEMENT ON POLICY TOWARD NEW ZEALAND

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 23, 1994

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I welcome the administration's decision 
last Friday, February 18, to restore senior-level contacts between 
United States officials and their New Zealand counterparts for 
discussion on political, strategic and broad security issues.
  Restrictions on New Zealand officials' access to the executive branch 
date back to 1987, when New Zealand adopted antinuclear legislation 
preventing U.S. Navy vessels and military aircraft from visiting New 
Zealand. The policy of keeping senior New Zealand officials at arms 
length since that time has had no impact of New Zealand's antinuclear 
stance. Nor has it served any other identifiable U.S. interest.
  Despite its continuing differences with the United States on nuclear 
issues, New Zealand is a friendly country that shares United States 
values and has similar approaches to the United States on many issues. 
In recent years New Zealand has played an active and positive role on 
international issues of importance to the United States. Cases in point 
are its current participation in the Security Council, its contribution 
to U.N. peacekeeping operations and its strong support for the Asia 
Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
  In this post cold war period, when multilateral effort and burden-
sharing are so important, maintaining restrictions on New Zealand's 
access to United States officials was no longer appropriate.
  The increased contact with New Zealand that will now occur will help 
ensure that the United States continues to have New Zealand's support 
on important issues. By encouraging greater bilateral dialog, it could 
also contribute to an eventual resolution of the differences between us 
in the defense and security area.

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