WikiLeaks cable: NZ PM and foreign minister make statements on hostage-taking in Iraq
This is one of the diplomatic cables about New Zealand held by Wikileaks.
28 July, 2004 NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MAKE HELPFUL STATEMENTS RE HOSTAGE-TAKING IN IRAQ
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor, Timothy Zuniga-Brown, for reasons 1. 5 (B/D)
1. (C) Post delivered reftel talking points and statement to the GNZ, but was careful to acknowledge the GNZ's clearly
stated position that New Zealand is NOT/NOT a member of the Coalition. New Zealand has consistently indicated that the
presence of 61 NZ military engineers in Basra is in fulfillment of its responsibilities as a UN member to UN Security
Council resolutions (including 1483).
2. (U) New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark implicitly criticized the Philippine government July 27 for withdrawing
its contingent from Iraq after one of its citizens was taken hostage. PM Clark told local media July 27 that "if you
allow yourself to be pushed around like that, you simply invite hostage-taking." Clark noted that she had consistently
told New Zealanders that if they went to Iraq and were kidnapped the GNZ would not help them.
3. (U) NZ Foreign Minister Phil Goff told local media that giving in to hostage-takers' demands only made kidnappings
more likely. Goff said he could "understand the angst the Philippine government felt, but it's a matter of long practice
and common sense that, when the demands of terrorists are acceded to, then their activities are encouraged, not
diminished." He added that if a New Zealander were held hostage, the GNZ would do all it could to negotiate for the
hostage's well being but would not bow to terrorist demands. Goff pointed out that "if the consequences are, in saving
one life, that it results in the loss of dozens of other lives, then that clearly was not the right decision to take."
Goff made similar remarks to the media at a recent joint press event with Australian Foreign Minister Downer.
Swindells
ENDS