19 Jun 2003

NZ Foreign Minister defends possible intervention in Solomons

10:43 am on 19 June 2003

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Phil Goff, says he expects to be questioned at this week's ASEAN meeting in Cambodia over plans to send a foreign intervention force to Solomon Islands.

The prospect of such a force was raised two weeks ago after a crisis meeting in Canberra with the Solomons Government, and is now dependent on backing from the Solomons Parliament.

Mr Goff says he does not believe the prospect of such a team being sent will be seen by ASEAN members as an aggressive move by Australia and New Zealand.

"Rather it will be seen as something within the context of the ASEAN Regional Forum where we try to engage in conflict prevention - in preventive diplomacy. This is not a case of New Zealand or Australia trying to impose its views on the Solomons. Indeed any intervention in the Solomons is of course at a cost to those countries."