‘We are here to catch fish'

The Pacific islands nations need money and Russia needs fish and that is the sole basis for fishery agreement negotiations in the region, according to a Soviet spokesman.

Third Secretary at the Soviet embassy in Canberra, Mr Vladimir Valkov, told PIM in an interview: “We have dozens of agreements with various countries on fishing.

These include New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.

“We fish for tuna in the Atlantic and also in the Indian Ocean, but the South Pacific is the richest region for tuna. That’s why we want to fish here also.”

He did not see the Soviet Union as competing with the US for fishing rights. “I’d suggest there is enough fish for everyone who is interested. And all distant-water fleets are interested in the Pacific. It doesn’t matter to us what other countries are fishing in the area and that includes the United States.

“We are here to fish,” he said. “It is a straight commercial proposition. To say, as some people have, that we want to establish bases of influence is rubbish.

We are a maritime nation and this region should not be closed to us. There is no reason for it to be.

“When nations want to conclude mutually beneficial agreements, who can, or should, stop them?”

He said the shore facilities argument had been exaggerated as any far distant fleet would require bases.

“We have to change crews, for instance. We have to refuel, reprovision with food and fresh water. We may need repair facilities. And we are prepared to pay for any facilities we use. ”We already have access to port facilities in New Zealand. It’s normal.”

Mr Valkov said the Soviets would not be seeking shore bases in Kiribati as the kind of facilities they required were not available.

“Our decision to seek shore bases is purely in the interests of efficiency. It costs money and time to send vessels home every time they need repairs or a crew change.”

He said the Soviet Union had never concealed its interest in fishing and hoped to co-operate in other areas.

He said there had been no concrete reply from Fiji on an offer made nearly two years ago (at the same time as the original offer to Kiribati) to negotiate a fishery agreement.

“All we have heard is the prime minister’s reported remarks in Honolulu and I suppose that shows Fiji is still considering the proposal. It is up to Fiji, of course. But that offer still stands.”

Mr Valkov, who was involved in early talks with Vanuatu (and caught his first yellowfin off Port Vila) was hopeful that the next round of negotiations would lead to an agreement.

“We have prepared a draft agreement and are waiting for Vanuatu to respond with their comments. They will perhaps want some specific changes and there may be further talks on that.”

He said suspicions that the Russian fleet would be used as a spying vehicle were unfounded. “As I have said, we are here to fish and for no other reason. If the host nation is worried about our activities, they are welcome to send observers. We have no objection.”

He said the Soviet Union was also willing to comply with catch reporting requirements. “No country that has a fishery agreement with us will have any problems. We will abide by our agreements and we will pay whatever fees are agreed.”

Mr Valkov also gave perhaps the strongest hint yet that Russia is likely to use its Security Council veto in an effort to halt the arrangements for the end of the trusteeship agreement between the US and the Microne sian states.

“Micronesia is set to become a US stronghold in the Pacific. This can only lead to tension,” he said, “We will be against this development though how our vote in the Security Council will be cast, I cannot tell you at this stage.”