MEDIA REACTION- ADMIRAL FALLON'S NZ VISIT

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000068 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/PD-AGrimes, EAP/ANP-DRicci E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO NZ SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION- ADMIRAL FALLON'S NZ VISIT ¶1. SUMMARY: After a recent meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Admiral Fallon's clear but non- confrontational style was particularly well-suited to delivering a US perspective to the New Zealand media. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The New Zealand media/public was left in no doubt that the US stands by its assessment that New Zealand's existing anti-nuclear legislation presents problems to the maintenance of regional security. The South Island's largest circulation daily, Christchurch- based "The Press," summed up the Admiral's stance. BEGIN TEXT. Fallon indicated the status quo remained over ship visits, but emphasized that the US saw New Zealand as a close friend... Asked if he was indicating a softening of the US attitude towards New Zealand's nuclear-free stance, Fallon said: "I wouldn't characterize that at all. This isn't about softening or hardening or anything. This is about getting to know the leadership of this country. I'm not in the policy-making business. I'm a military officer and I've got plenty on my fleet to do right now." END TEXT. The country's largest circulation daily, the Auckland-based "New Zealand Herald," ran the same quote noting that it was a mistake to interpret the Admiral's visit to New Zealand as a softening of the US position. BEGIN TEXT. Asked whether his presence was a sign of a softening of the US attitude to New Zealand's nuclear-free policy, Admiral Fallon, who reports to US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said he was "not in the policy-making business, I'm a military officer." END TEXT. The editorial in the "Otago Daily Times" agreed. BEGIN TEXT. It is doubtful any minds were changed last Friday, when the man in charge of the United States Pacific Command, Admiral Fallon, met Prime Minister Helen Clark. END TEXT. ¶3. The Admiral successfully guided the New Zealand media to examine the state of the bilateral relationship and question long-held assumptions, instead of simply rehashing old arguments. Even the "New Zealand Herald" sub-header noted, "Visiting American admiral deftly navigates our nuclear shoals." The article further indicated that the New Zealand media had not missed the Admiral's message. BEGIN TEXT: "It is about the willingness to be open to discussion ... it's about getting to know the leadership of this country." He said there should be a willingness to discuss and challenge assumptions taken as bedrock. END TEXT. The Admiral's comments on trust were also picked up by the "Otago Daily Times," which ran an editorial entitled, "Mutual Trust?" The newspaper's conclusions included the observation that the status quo is not in New Zealand's interests. BEGIN TEXT: What has not changed in 20 years is that we (NZ) continue to forfeit the advantages of a close and beneficial relationship with the only power in a position to guarantee our security. END TEXT.