PM gets it right

Peter Cullen’s [business opinion column] that you published on April 11, ‘‘Murky world of diplomatic immunity’’ is full of important inaccuracies.

First of all the British Government have never referred to the nerve agent used to attempt the assassinations of the Skripals, by name. To identify the agent as Novichok, would reveal that they too stocked this powerful nerve agent.

It is true that Novichok was developed by the Russians, but because it is 10 times more powerful that Sarin, it is a jealously guarded Russian secret weapon.

Cullen claims that Jacinda Ardern stated that there were no Russian spies in New Zealand.

That is incorrect.

What the PM said was that there were no undeclared Russian intelligence officers (spies) in New Zealand, an important difference.

So why has our PM, Jacinda Ardern refused to join the list of international protesters, who have expelled so many Russian diplomats for this outrageous affair?

To me there are a number of good reasons:

1: Solidarity. What support did New Zealand receive from the British and the rest of the world , when French spies bombed the Rainbow Worrier and killed one of its crew?

2: Proportionality. Given the size of our population, compared with, say Australia, who expelled two diplomats, what proportion of our Russian embassy staff, would we expel, a arm or maybe a leg?

3: Cost benefit: Putin is not amused by the international reaction to this affair, and each nation who has joined the club, will pay dearly for it, and if NZ pursues any trade agreement with Russia in the future, will be greeted more favourably.

In summary, I believe that, to date, our prime minister has done what was right and appropriate, in the way she has dealt with the Skripal attempted assassination affair, and that she should be applauded for doing so.

Brian Main

Hamilton