Helen Clark's Anti-NZ Tour

Helen Clark's use of her trip to France to express concern, that the US might emerge as an unchallenged superpower, takes the New Zealand Prime Minister's anti-Americanism to a whole new level, ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

"Ms Clark is greasing up to a president who provided succour to the Iraqi regime. France blocked UN authorisation for action against Saddam Hussein. It refused to say unequivocally that it wanted an allied victory, and recent revelations show that the French gave Hussein regular reports on dealings with US officials.

"Other than the former Soviet Union, France was the number-one supplier of weapons to Hussein. Many of the weapons that took Allied lives were stamped `Made in France'.

"It is common knowledge that the French supplied Saddam Hussein's regime with nuclear technology. Furthermore, France was rewarded for supporting the UN economic sanctions against Iraq by receiving a lion's share of oil contracts issued by the Saddam Hussein regime.

"For Helen Clark to steam through Europe is one thing. But to talk up a `Franco/German/Russian alliance, with links through to China, and to speak derogatory against the Anglo/American group' is breathtaking. It is completely against New Zealand traditions and interests.

"A free trade deal with the US is the best hope for New Zealand's economy. We know, from the US decision to delay the Chile FTA because of their anti-US stance, that the US administration does link foreign affairs and trade.

"Each day she is away, Helen Clark is acting against New Zealand's interests. One can only assume that she is trying to set herself up for a job in some multilateral body. She needs to understand that what is best for Helen is not best for this country," Mr Shirley said.

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