Clark steering clear of Asean-Australia treaty row

Helen Clark is on her way to Laos. Picture / Mark Mitchell

VIENTIANE, LAOS - Prime Minister Helen Clark is keeping out of a diplomatic row between Australia and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) over Australian Prime Minister John Howard's refusal to sign a non-aggression pact.

Both New Zealand and Australia have been considering a long-standing request to sign a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation (TAC), but the issue has taken on new urgency as leaders gather for the Asean summit in the Laos capital of Vientiane.

Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Phil Goff have both spoken favourably in the past about signing the pact which calls on signatories to commit to "non-interference in the internal affairs of one another", a "renunciation of the threat or use of force" and the settlement of disputes by "peaceful means".

Other countries seeking closer links with Asean have signed up but Australia says it is unnecessary as it and New Zealand prepare to launch trade negotiations with the 10 members strong grouping of Asean nations.

The Australian media said both Mr Howard and Trade Minister Mark Vaile were against the idea.

Mr Howard said in a radio interview on Friday that the TAC was "the sort of agreement which countries coming out of the Non-Aligned Movement would have signed".

He said "a country such as Australia which has a different history wouldn't normally have embraced treaties of this kind" and that Australia was more interested in the substance of its ties with Asean.

The stance has caused concern among Asean diplomats in Vientiane who say it threatened to overshadow talks about trade and closer links at the summit. If Australia did not sign, it would be unlikely to be invited to another summit, one diplomat said.

China, Japan, India and Pakistan had all signed up, and the Russian Foreign Minister is said to be ready to sign up when he visits the summit.

New Zealand diplomats in Vientiane said the TAC was "very dearly held" by Asean nations who originally formed the loose block on the basis of non-interference in each other's affairs.

Asean members themselves are grappling with what stance to take against Myanmar's long running abuse of human rights and the recent suppression of Islamic unrest in Thailand's southern regions, both members of Asean.

On the surface, signing the treaty would have little impact on New Zealand which is not known for its aggression or militaristic ambitions.

However non-interference in Asean terms means largely refraining from public criticism of internal affairs of other countries including clear human rights abuses. Miss Clark and other New Zealand leaders have a record of speaking out on matters of international principle.

It would also have implications for situations like the East Timor crisis in which Australia and New Zealand sent in peace-keeping troops despite Indonesia's reluctance about others getting involved in the affairs of its former colony.

Helen Clark's spokesman said she would not be commenting ahead of her arrival in Laos.

When she does arrive she will have to balance New Zealand's close relationship with Australia with the desire to build closer links with Asia.

Australia's stance is being treated with suspicion as it has stated a willingness to carry out pre-emptive strikes on foreign soil against terrorists and the Australian Defence Force's plans to buy cruise missiles.

Both Australia and New Zealand hope to leave Laos with an agreement to start formal negotiations for the free trade agreement to be completed within two years with the aim of eliminating trade and investment barriers in 10 years.

A range of summit related meetings have been taking place in Vientiane this week. The Asean leader summit begins on Monday with Australia and New Zealand's summit being held the same day. The leaders of India, China, Japan and South Korea are also attending.

Asean members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar and Cambodia.

Helen Clark is the first New Zealand leader to be invited since 1977. No Australian Prime Minister has ever previously been invited.

- NZPA