English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4324] 
2.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: Is the provision of peacekeepers mine clearing expertise and other humanitarian aid to post-war Iraq dependent upon United Nations control of Iraq; if so why? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 No. As the member ought to be aware we have already committed humanitarian aid to Iraqi people suffering from the consequences of war. With regard to peacekeeping and mine clearing the member will also know that under the previous Government and this Government we have generally carried out those functions under the auspices of the United Nations. 
Hon Bill English 
: Why is it that all of a sudden the Government is much more interested in the purity of its multilateralism than it is in the suffering of ordinary Iraqis who will be affected by this war? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Our concern for the suffering of ordinary Iraqi people was demonstrated by New Zealand being probably one of the very first countries in the world to make a commitment of funding to help with food shelter and medical supplies. That initial commitment will be further contributed to as the need becomes apparent. 
Tim Barnett 
: Has he had discussions with representatives of the coalition countries with forces in Iraq as to their views about the post-conflict involvement of the UN in Iraq; if so what are those views? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Yes I have discussed that question with the High Commissioners for Australia and the United Kingdom and the United States Ambassador. The view of all three was that it was clearly important that the United Nations be involved in Iraq at the end of hostilities. I note that Clare Short recently made a trip to the United Nations to press just that point on behalf of the United Kingdom. There is of course a parallel in Kosovo where the conflict did not have the explicit authorisation of the UN. Nevertheless it was the UN that was called in to clean up the mess at the end. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: If it is now Labour’s policy that peacekeepers have to be under the United Nations will the Labour Government withdraw New Zealand defence personnel who are currently acting as peacekeepers outside UN authorisation in Bougainville Papua New Guinea Bosnia Afghanistan the Sinai and Cambodia or is it this Labour Government’s view that when it comes to Iraq it just wants to put forward an anti-American view? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: In respect of the list of countries given the member was wrong on just about every count. For example in respect of Bougainville there is a UN office for the management of Bougainville. In respect of Kosovo there is a UN role in supervising the civil administration. The one exception which I think he did mention is the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. That exception exists because it was the will of both countries involved in that conflict—Israel and Egypt—that we provide assistance in the way that we have over the last 20 years. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The House should know that the answer we have just been given is very misleading. I checked with Defence today and that is the list they gave me of peacekeeping operations where our personnel are not under United Nations control. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I guess it is about time they told the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will be seated. I am warning the member that when I tell him to sit down he sits down and he knows that. He will not be doing that again this question time. That is debating material and the member knows it. 
Ron Mark 
: How seriously should the people of New Zealand take this Government’s offer of assistance in the reconstruction of Iraq and the distribution of humanitarian aid when it seeks to allocate $40 million to Indonesia—a nation that is responsible for the deaths of five of our service personnel—and only $3.3 million towards Iraq at this point in time? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: If the member is to make comparisons he ought to do so in a way that compares like with like. The figure he quoted for Indonesia is assistance being given over a period of 4 or 5 years. The figure he has given for Iraq is the initial commitment of resources that we have made immediately to that country foreshadowing that other assistance will follow. 
Keith Locke 
: Does the Minister agree that not only is it important that the UN humanitarian effort remains truly independent but also that if UN peacekeepers were in any way subordinate to the invading American force that would seriously compromise or undermine the United Nations? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: We will be providing aid largely through United Nations agencies and also through non-governmental organisations. The UN can operate to provide humanitarian aid without any further mandate. With regard to peacekeeping forces clearly the role of peacekeeping forces post-conflict has to be quite separate from the role of the military forces that were involved in the action in the first instance. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: If the Government does receive a request via the United Nations for the involvement of New Zealand peacekeeping forces in post-war Iraq what would be its response? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: New Zealand has a proud reputation for being a good international citizen. We have always tried to respond positively to any requests made by the UN for our assistance such as in the tragedy that is occurring in Iraq at the present time. 
Hon Bill English 
: Given the Government’s concern about correctly following the rules and conventions of the United Nations why has the Government allowed the State broadcaster Television One to broadcast pictures of prisoners of war in contravention of international law? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: A lot is being said about breaches of the Geneva convention in respect of prisoners of war. Sadly I have seen photos of prisoners of war held by the coalition forces and I have seen photos of American prisoners of war held by the Iraqis. As I understand it both are in breach of the UN convention. As the member knows this Government does not direct Television New Zealand on the news it provides. I am surprised that the member is recommending that we should direct it. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I was completely unable to hear the conclusion of the Minister’s answer. I am very interested to know what the Government is doing about what the Minister says are breaches of the Geneva convention. I think he should be able to give the final part of his answer so that the whole House can hear it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The final sentence was drowned out by what I thought was an unreasonable amount of noisy interjections. I did just hear the answer. Could the Minister repeat the final sentence as he gave it. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I said that this Government and in fact any Government in New Zealand does not have the power to direct any news organisation in this country as to what it provides. I was surprised that the Leader of the Opposition was suggesting that we should have that power.