6. Hon MURRAY McCULLY (National—East Coast Bays) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Does he stand by his actions in interrupting Senator John McCain during media questions at last week’s meeting, and his subsequent description of media coverage as “a tissue of lies”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
Speaking as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, I believe this is a matter best dealt with between the Rt Hon Winston Peters and the media.
Hon Murray McCully Link to this
Does the Minister stand by the accusations in his press release of 19 July—the day of the McCain meeting—in which he asserted that the New Zealand media had “arrived late”, been guilty of “an unplanned intrusion”, then “proceeded to hijack the meeting” and had broken an agreement to ask only a couple of questions; if not, which of those accusations does he not now stand behind, and why?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
As I said, as Acting Minister I believe these are matters best dealt with between the Rt Hon Winston Peters and the media. I did watch Close Up last night, and, indeed, a couple of questions were mentioned before questioning began.
Hon Murray McCully Link to this
What specific lies was the Minister referring to when he called media coverage of the incident “a tissue of lies”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have always understood that a tissue is a kind of seamless web.
Hon Murray McCully Link to this
Does the Minister still stand by his statement of 17 November 2005: “We have to exhaust every potential there is to obtain an improved relationship with the United States.”; if so, can he explain how interrupting a senior senator—and potential United States President—in mid-sentence and overshadowing his visit with accusations that the media are retailing a tissue of lies would have contributed towards that objective?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The matters referred to in the last part of the question appear to have had no impact upon the United States, at all.
Hon Murray McCully Link to this
Does the Minister still stand by his further statement of 17 November last year, in relation to his goal of improving New Zealand - US relations: “We have got to go into this with the best of optimism and using the best of our intelligence and see if we can effect a better outcome.”, and can he refer the House specifically to the displays of either optimism or intelligence on his part that were evident in Washington last week?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
What I can certainly refer to is the fact that Senator McCain—who has yet to confirm he is a candidate for the presidency, I noted in the interview relayed on Close Up last night; the National Party appears to be jumping the gun in this respect—said he placed no weight upon the problems that arose out of misunderstandings, and that discussions with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had clearly resulted in New Zealand and the United States expressing a wish to move forward, which is something that did not happen under the National Government.
Hon Murray McCully Link to this
Can we conclude from last week’s tantrums in Washington that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been taking media advice from the Minister of Finance, and that the journalists responsible for the alleged “tissue of lies” are secretly conspiring with the National Party in order to get a tax cut?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
If they are going to wait for a National Government for a tax cut, even Mr Espiner will have retired by that point.