2. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she have confidence in the Minister of Foreign Affairs; if so, why?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes, because he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister.
Does she believe the behaviour of the Minister in Washington yesterday was acceptable, when he interrupted Senator John McCain, potentially the next President of the United States, as the senator was in the middle of answering questions from journalists; if so, why?
Hon Maurice WilliamsonHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Indeed, he has; he has supported New Zealand. Indeed, “McCain, you’ve done it again.”—I thank Mr Williamson for that. There is no indication that Senator McCain took any offence. He probably was not used to the aggressiveness of the New Zealand media in seeking interviews.
How can she possibly be happy that Mr Peters rudely interrupted the man who could be the next President of the United States when he was in the middle of comments lavishing praise on New Zealand, advocating a free-trade deal with New Zealand, and suggesting that New Zealand should be regarded as an ally?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Indeed, of course, what Senator McCain was saying was that he did not see our nuclear-free policy as any impediment to a free-trade deal, which is directly contrary to what Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith PhD has been trying to tell the country for umpteen years.
Peter BrownCan the Prime Minister confirm that all official reports—and I stress “official reports”—show that the New Zealand - US relationship has indeed been enhanced by the visit of our foreign Minister and that any person looking at the substance, against the spin, would see that the language and tone used by senior US officials demonstrate clearly the strengthening of this relationship?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Indeed, and, of course, Mr Peters also had a fruitful meeting with Condoleezza Rice—another person who could be the next President of the United States. Of course, if Mr Peters were to meet all the people who could be the next President of the United States, he would be very busy indeed over the coming months.
Does the Prime Minister think it is telling that Mr Peters had no press conference with the US Secretary of State after his meeting with her today and that his meeting with her was cut short, from 1 hour to 30 minutes, and does she not think that Mr Peters may well have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
No, Mr Peters does not model himself on the Leader of the Opposition.
Hon Phil GoffCan the Minister confirm that it is not the practice of the Secretary of State ever to have a press conference with another foreign Minister after their meetings, though the Secretary of State would do so for the Prime Minister of New Zealand, such as when Colin Powell had that meeting and described our relationship as being “very, very, very close friends”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That is my understanding, and, indeed, United States politicians hold far fewer press conferences than their counterparts in New Zealand are accustomed to holding.
Heather RoyIs Winston Peters a better person for the job of Minister of Foreign Affairs than his predecessor, the Hon Phil Goff, or is Mr Peters’ appointment simply the price that this country has to pay for the Prime Minister to keep her job as Prime Minister?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
They are different but both excellent men in their very different ways. But I do note that Mr John Key was boasting some months before the election that National had already offered the Foreign Affairs job to Mr Peters.
Keith LockeDid Mr Peters raise with American leaders New Zealand’s abhorrence at the gross human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre; if not, why did the Government miss such a valuable face-to-face opportunity to express New Zealanders’ concern that a country such as America is so undermining international human rights standards?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have no information on that point. It would seem particularly inappropriate to have done that with Senator John McCain, who has himself raised some questions about those matters.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Given that the Prime Minister cannot give us the specific information now, could the Prime Minister find out whether Mr Peters did raise that question and report back to the House?
Madam SPEAKERI am sorry, it is not a point of order, but I remind the member that he could put it down as a written question.
Has the Prime Minister seen the comments of veteran reporter Barry Soper, who described the Minister’s behaviour in Washington yesterday as “embarrassing, arrogant, and insulting”, adding that it was the most embarrassing thing he had seen in 26 years of travelling with Ministers and Prime Ministers, and does that assessment not cause her to review the wisdom of appointing Mr Peters as the Minister of Foreign Affairs?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
On the last point, I would remind the member that his colleague Mr Key was boasting some months before the election that National had offered that job to Mr Peters—and I have no doubt that if that had been the price of a coalition with National, National would have paid it.
Does the Prime Minister agree with the account in Mr Peters’ press release of yesterday’s incident, or does she believe the statement by Barry Soper that the release was “full of untruths”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The press release I have relates to a productive trip to Washington for Mr Peters. It outlines whom he met, it states that we have a longstanding relationship with the United States, and it states that the discussions raised were across a wide range of areas. All of those seem to be purely factual statements to me.
Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to confirm that this is not the first time that a particular Television New Zealand reporter has engaged with politicians under one auspice only to portray the result on national television as being something completely different?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Modesty prevents me from commenting on that question any further.