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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 27, 1995

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

President Clinton Meets New Zealand Prime Minister Bolger

President Clinton met with New Zealand Prime Minister James Bolger for forty- five minutes today in the White House. The two leaders had a wide-ranging discussion concerning bilateral and regional issues.

President Clinton and Prime Minister Bolger agreed that the overall relationship had been considerably strengthened since the Administration's February l994 policy review, which resulted in the resumption of high-level contacts between the two governments. President Clinton stressed to the Prime Minister, however, that New Zealand's anti-nuclear legislation remains a serious issue and, until resolved, it will not be possible for the United States to have the same type of security relationship that it had with New Zealand prior to the legislation's passage.

President Clinton appreciates New Zealand's recent, welcome decision to contribute financially to KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization). The President praised the many other areas where the two countries have cooperated closely, including in promoting trade and investment liberalization in APEC, in supporting indefinite extension of the Nonproliferation Treaty, in numerous peacekeeping endeavors and in the United Nations Security Council, where New Zealand recently completed a two year term.

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