Peters jets off to tell UN what we think

Winston Peters is off to the US today. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will use his first address to the United Nations General Assembly to give New Zealand's view on weighty international issues such as the fighting in Darfur.

Mr Peters flies to New York today on an 11-day trip during which he will attend the opening of the 61st UN General Assembly and go to Finland and Estonia for short visits.

It is his first big international engagement since he became seriously ill after contracting a mystery illness during a trip to Malaysia last month.

While guarded yesterday about his health, Mr Peters was in a cheerful mood and said he had "good reason to be" that way.

Insiders say Mr Peters' health is still less than 100 per cent, but not far off it.

He missed a speech he was to deliver last Thursday to the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and a spokesman for that organisation said the absence was explained to him as being because of a medical appointment relating to Mr Peters' recent illness.

After yesterday discussing the current political environment of personal attacks against MPs, Mr Peters answered a question about how he was feeling with a laugh and by saying: "I'm feeling great that we're not part of any of this crap."

His address to the UN General Assembly will be a highlight in his career as Foreign Minister.

He said he had "been around too long to get too carried away" with the occasion.

"But I take it very seriously," he added, saying he was still drafting his speech and that it would "deal with the issues that really concern" New Zealand.

The theme of the address would be "multilateralism that delivers".

It would highlight NZ's focus on poverty eradication in the Pacific, and reflect its desire for the United Nations to be used as a "tool for peace and progress in the Middle East, Darfur and Timor-Leste", Mr Peters said.

He also yesterday moved to assure New Zealanders that the Government was aware of the situation in Sudan.

Mr Peters said it has been on the Cabinet's radar screen and New Zealand was ready to make a commitment to help the situation "if we knew in what way we could".

Mr Peters will travel to Finland for the latest round of six-monthly consultations with the European Union presidency.

He will also meet Finland's foreign minister, then go to Estonia to sign a working holiday scheme.


SCHEDULE

* Departs today.

* Delivers New Zealand's statement to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

* Travels to Finland for six-monthly consultations with European Union presidency.

* Meets Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, foreign affairs committee chairwoman Liisa Jaakonsaari, and President Tarja Halonen

* Travels to Estonia to sign a working holiday scheme.

* Returns home on Saturday, September 30.