US embassy cable - 04WELLINGTON641

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000641 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/ANP AND PM/RSAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, OPDC, MOPS, MARR, IZ, NZ 
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER 
MAKE HELPFUL STATEMENTS RE HOSTAGE-TAKING IN IRAQ 
 
REF: STATE 161899 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor, Timothy Zuniga-Brown, for reasons 1. 
5 (B/D) 
 
1. (C) Post delivered reftel talking points and statement to 
the GNZ, but was careful to acknowledge the GNZ's clearly 
stated position that New Zealand is NOT/NOT a member of the 
Coalition.  New Zealand has consistently indicated that the 
presence of 61 NZ military engineers in Basra is in 
fulfillment of its responsibilities as a UN member to UN 
Security Council resolutions (including 1483). 
 
2. (U) New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark implicitly 
criticized the Philippine government July 27 for withdrawing 
its contingent from Iraq after one of its citizens was taken 
hostage.  PM Clark told local media July 27 that "if you 
allow yourself to be pushed around like that, you simply 
invite hostage-taking."  Clark noted that she had 
consistently told New Zealanders that if they went to Iraq 
and were kidnapped the GNZ would not help them. 
 
3. (U) NZ Foreign Minister Phil Goff told local media that 
giving in to hostage-takers' demands only made kidnappings 
more likely.  Goff said he could "understand the angst the 
Philippine government felt, but it's a matter of long 
practice and common sense that, when the demands of 
terrorists are acceded to, then their activities are 
encouraged, not diminished."  He added that if a New 
Zealander were held hostage, the GNZ would do all it could to 
negotiate for the hostage's well being but would not bow to 
terrorist demands.   Goff pointed out that "if the 
consequences are, in saving one life, that it results in the 
loss of dozens of other lives, then that clearly was not the 
right decision to take."  Goff made similar remarks to the 
media at a recent joint press event with Australian Foreign 
Minister Downer. 
Swindells