New Zealand Keen to Send Peacekeepers to Afghanistan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 14, 2001

New Zealand Keen to Send Peacekeepers to Afghanistan

New Zealand is ready to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan to help provide stability following the downfall of the Taliban regime.

New Zealand is ready to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan to help provide stability following the downfall of the Taliban regime.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is in Britain, told Radio New Zealand on Friday that she has discussed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair what the international community is doing to help a new Afghan government.

She said the New Zealand government is keen to contribute to apeacekeeping force and can send about "two dozen" personnel.

Helen Clark said New Zealand can't send more because of the large commitment in East Timor.

The New Zealand prime minister is in England to attend the funeral of Sir Peter Blake, the New Zealand yachting icon, who masterminded New Zealand's America's Cup successes in 1995 and 2000.

Sir Peter was shot dead by pirates on the Amazon river in Brazil last week.

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