WikiLeaks cable: NZ visit US to talk bilateral relationship, nuclear issue and FTA
This is one of the diplomatic cables about New Zealand held by Wikileaks.
13 October, 2005 SUBJECT: IN DC VISIT, NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL TO SEEK USG VIEWS ON BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP, NUCLEAR ISSUE
AND FTA
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
Classified by Charge d'Affaires David R. Burnett. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: New Zealand Deputy Secretary for Asia and Americas John McKinnon will visit Washington from October 17
to 20. He will seek U.S. views on evolving regional security architecture and the potential for improving the U.S.-New
Zealand relationship. McKinnon will acknowledge that all issues should be on the table in discussions of the
relationship and, while there is no immediate prospect for New Zealand's repeal of its anti-nuclear legislation, he will
want to hear why the legislation is still significant to the U.S. government. McKinnon also will seek a frank assessment
of New Zealand's chances for free-trade negotiations with the United States. New Zealand remains concerned with its
public face if it were to enter dialogue with the United States without knowing if a free-trade deal were a possible
outcome. End summary.
2. (C) In a meeting October 12 with the Charge, Simon Murdoch, chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MFAT), said that although the new government had not yet been formed, he knew that Phil Goff would
remain as foreign minister. Moreover, Murdoch knew the government-in-waiting wanted to be seen as responding
constructively to Ambassador Swindells' suggestion for an enhanced dialogue on the bilateral relationship, which he made
both to the Prime Minister and in his July 4 speech (ref B). John McKinnon's visit to Washington is seen by the ministry
as part of that constructive response. (Note: The Labour Party is negotiating with minor parties to form a government
after winning the most votes in the September 17 elections. End note.)
3. (C) As his visit's main goal, McKinnon -- the ministry's senior official responsible for the U.S.-New Zealand
relationship -- will explore whether a durable process can be set up for discussing the bilateral relationship and what
each partner can do to add value to that relationship, Murdoch said. He added that New Zealand wants a constructive
relationship. While anti-American rhetoric from some Labour candidates during the election campaign might have suggested
otherwise, New Zealand wants to think of itself as a friend to the United States.
4. (C) Murdoch understood that U.S. officials in Washington viewed the New Zealand government as making a serious effort
in pursuing possible dialogue and were prepared to receive McKinnon on that basis. "We've gone down this track as
realists, but what's significant is that we wish to get things on a different footing," Murdoch said. Whereas State
officials had told New Zealand officials that McKinnon should not come to Washington unless he had something to say,
Murdoch remarked, "We'll come with what we can say. It's not for us to determine whether we have enough." The Charge
noted that Washington officials have a lot on their plates. He underscored the importance of McKinnon either making
clear what New Zealand can do for an enhanced relationship or, at a minimum, coming away from the visit with
recommendations to the new Cabinet on what it will take to keep Washington's attention.
5. (C) Acknowledging that the United States would want to include New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy in bilateral
discussions, Murdoch said all issues would have to be on the table. McKinnon will ask USG officials why New Zealand's
anti-nuclear policy remains a matter of importance and concern to the United States. McKinnon hopes to bring back an
explanation that will register with his government's leaders, Murdoch said.
6. (C) However, Murdoch noted that repeal of the anti-nuclear legislation would not occur under the incoming government.
While such action might have been possible before the September 17 elections, the campaign "sharpened" the issue and
made a change unlikely, Murdoch said. He expects that when the government returns to business and he asks Goff which
issues he considers to be mandated by his constituencies, the preservation of New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy will be
among them. The Charge said he hoped this would not preclude the government from thinking about what it could do, if
anything, short of repeal to meet U.S. concerns. 7. (C) Murdoch said that, in any dialogue, New Zealand will want to
discuss our countries' common interests, particularly in the Pacific region with the security architecture changing. New
Zealand is looking out for its own interests in trying to demonstrate its value as a contributor to the region's
security and development, since it would be easy for larger powers to marginalize the small country. The Charge
responded that it would be helpful for McKinnon to spell out that motivation -- that New Zealand is acting out of its
interests rather than out of ideology -- during his visit. If he also could be specific about concrete measures that New
Zealand might take in response to changes in regional security arrangements, the Charge said that, too, would be of
interest.
8. (C) McKinnon will draw attention to New Zealand's contributions outside the region, including in Afghanistan. Murdoch
said he will make the point that "somehow, our politicians have the sense that it doesn't seem to matter what we do, to
(receive) constructive signals that we are valued." The Charge said that U.S. officials feel compelled to thank New
Zealand officials for their country's contributions in Afghanistan at every meeting because there was so little else to
discuss.
9. (C) Murdoch asked the Charge what other issues should be raised by McKinnon. The Charge suggested that, while it was
clear that New Zealanders desire to have some distance from the U.S. government, each government needed to think about
how much distance is necessary or useful, and why. Murdoch remarked that New Zealand is a relatively new country still
defining itself in relation to the world. He pointed out that New Zealand and the United States collaborate closely in
the sharing of intelligence and that they could build on that cooperation. The Charge warned that while such cooperation
had grown rapidly, it would likely run up against limits imposed by the nuclear issue sooner or later.
10. (C) Finally, Murdoch said another objective of McKinnon's visit was to ascertain New Zealand's ability to obtain
free-trade negotiations with the United States. The New Zealand government wants to know whether it is a serious
prospect for a free-trade agreement and would not want McKinnon returning home without its status clarified. "We can
take a candid comment on that," Murdoch said.
11. (C) New Zealand continues to believe what it was told by the Deputy Secretary when he was the U.S. Trade
Representative: While the United States cannot commit to free-trade negotiations at this time, they have not been ruled
out. Murdoch said New Zealand is also mindful of the USTR's recent announcement on four other countries being priorities
for free-trade deals and of the closing window before trade promotion authority expires. New Zealand simply wants to
know if it will be onboard the next sailing. The Charge responded that it would be worthwhile to seek a clear answer,
but cautioned that the USG might not be eager to close the door, even if New Zealand preferred a closed door to the
current uncertainty. He also urged New Zealand to consider whether some of its concerns might be better handled through
bilateral investment discussions, especially if New Zealand were not in the queue for free-trade talks.
12. (C) Murdoch noted that his government needed to figure out how it would publicly manage the relationship if New
Zealand proceeded with dialogue with the United States without the prospect of an FTA. In the meantime, he suggested
that McKinnon's discussions be conducted under media and diplomatic radar. His government will describe McKinnon's visit
as taking advantage of an opportune time to exchange views before the Pacific Islands Forum and the APEC summit. (Note:
The Assistant Secretary and Prime Minister Clark are not scheduled to be at the Forum at the same time and are unlikely
to be able to meet. The New Zealand government hopes the Secretary and PM Clark might meet during the APEC meetings. We
did not encourage that hope. End note.)
13. (C) Comment: John McKinnon is a smart, reasoned and pragmatic diplomat. His visit is an opportunity to provide New
Zealand with a frank assessment of U.S. views on the bilateral relationship, the possibility of dialogue, New Zealand's
nuclear policy and its chances for a free-trade agreement. The New Zealand government at times has had unrealistic
expectations of the United States, which have contributed to the strain on our relationship. McKinnon's visit presents a
chance to quell those expectations and tell it like it is.
Burnett
ENDS