Peters' role questioned by European parliamentarians

The row over Winston Peters' role as a foreign minister outside Cabinet has flared again, this time with politicians from the European Parliament questioning the unusual arrangements.

Prime Minister Helen Clark is in Brussels where she delivered a serve over the European Union's new sugar reforms ahead of the upcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong.

But while there she also faced questions from members of the European Parliament who either did not understand, found interesting or were irritated by the arrangements she had made to form the Government.

German Green Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Michael Cramer said today he could not see how a "right-wing populist" politician like Mr Peters could be a minister in a Government he had attacked in the past.

Mr Cramer said he had been to New Zealand three times and was interested in its politics.

He knew the situation was complicated because Helen Clark was running a minority Government.

"But Winston Peters is, for me, a right-wing politician and he attacked the former Government," he told National Radio. "He attacked the policies of Helen Clark because he is against the foreigners and he makes remarks which are, in my view, not acceptable and I can't image that Helen Clark is delighted on such comments he made in the past."

Mr Cramer said he accepted it was up to New Zealand to decide its own path, but he found it "difficult to understand" how the arrangements could work.

He knew about Mr Peters' past comments on Asian immigration including that it was possible to wander down Queen St in Auckland and wonder if you were still in New Zealand.

Mr Cramer said not only him but all the other Members of the European Parliament had talked after their meeting with Helen Clark.

"All those parliamentarians are very irritated about the fact that Winston Peters of New Zealand First is now the representative of New Zealand in the world."

Despite the concern over the arrangements, Mr Cramer said he believed there would continue to be a good relationship between the European Union and New Zealand.

British Conservative MEP Neil Parish also raised the issue of Mr Peters' appointment, telling a foreign affairs committee meeting in Brussels he found the arrangements that saw Labour's coalition partners sitting outside Cabinet "an interesting concept".

"I would be quite interested to see how you think that's going to work. I'm sure you think it's going to work well but to me it's intriguing to see how that's going to work," he said.

Mr Peters responded today that it was not surprising a Green politician was raising the issue, because the Green movement went worldwide.

"Maybe they would prefer (Green MP) Keith Locke to be the minister of foreign affairs for New Zealand. I don't think the mass majority of New Zealanders would think that," he told National Radio.

"All I can say to you is that this controversy will die away when people realise that mischief making is of no import and we're going to take a leaf from the All Blacks and let the rugby do the talking."

Mr Peters has been in the United Kingdom where he has met British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and British Defence Minister Adam Ingram .

Among issues discussed was Afghanistan and New Zealand's contribution there.

The United States plans to pull 4000 troops out of Afghanistan early next year, and the British government has been trying to pull together a coalition counter-insurgency force to fill the gap.

New Zealand has sent SAS troops to Afghanistan and also has contributed personnel to a provincial reconstruction team there.

Mr Peters said New Zealand's engagement in Afghanistan was "well respected".

It was for the Government to decide whether to contribute further, he said.

Mr Peters said he was hoping to meet Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon tomorrow although an appointment had yet to be firmed up.

Mr Peters has faced questions about his role on his first trips representing New Zealand overseas.

At the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) meeting, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer asked Trade Minister Phil Goff about Mr Peters' role.

In Malta recently meeting Commonwealth foreign ministers, Mr Peters asked to be given the opportunity to prove himself in his new role before being criticised at home about his performance abroad.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said today the arrangements with Mr Peters "absolutely" were not a major issue for the Europeans.

The German Green had asked about Mr Peters' role "but I have to say I fielded more questions on Burma than on that matter", she told National Radio.

She said the session with the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee covered a range of issues.

"There were a wide range of questions that came on trade, foreign policy, East Asia, a particular concern with the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi the opposition leader in Burma. No, this was very much a minor part of the interaction," Helen Clark said.

- NZPA