NZ media 'fails' to mention Murray McCully visit to Moscow

The world is going to hell in a handbasket. The Arctic sea ice is melting and we are one whisker away from full-blown world war.

But sometimes I’ve got to take time out to report on a bit of NON-NEWS that’s probably of little interest to anyone.

Least of all to any of the New Zealand media. If McCully had been in Washington Radio NZ and the rest of the media scrum would have been all over it.

NZ media silent about FM McCully meeting with Lavrov

I woke up this morning to a complete translation of a press conference of Russian FM Sergei Lavrov with briber of Saudi headchoppers, Murray McCully.

Sputnik did an article on it.  

Lavrov, New Zealand's FM Agree to Restart Full-Scale Cooperation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday he and his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully agreed to restart full-format cooperation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – McCully and Lavrov met in Moscow earlier in the day to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations.

"We had very good talks, we decided to start again our full-format cooperation," Lavrov told reporters after the meeting.

According to the Russian official, Moscow’s and Wellington’s approaches on many international issues coincide.

"Out talks confirm our aim to renew the full-format cooperation," he added.

McCully said he had discussed the situation in Syria with his Lavrov, underlining Moscow’s influence in the region.

"Syria was discussed, we hope to find a way forward in Syria… we underline the influence of Russia in the region," McCully told reporters after the meeting.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Daesh as well as Jabhat Fatah al Sham (previously known as al-Nusra Front), both outlawed in Russia and a range of other states, are not part of the deal.

The implementation of the Minsk accord on settling the Ukrainian conflict will improve trade relations between Russia and New Zealand, McCully said.

"We see a significant scope for trade and economic relationship to be improved. The decline that occurred in trade is not the consequence of sanctions or countersanctions… We place considerable support behind the Minsk agreements and believe these agreements will set the scene for policy settings changes."

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And RT even broadcast the whole event.

Even the European Press Photo Agency mentioned it.

But from the entirety of the NZ media scrum who you would think might be interested in Murray’s adventures overseas there was a big fat ZILCH

One might have thought that a visit to one of the major powers, to the bowels of the "Axis of Evil" might rate a mention.

Oh sorry! The Beehive did mention it.

McCully to Europe for EU talks, bilateral visits

Should I read any political significance into this? I doubt it. But it does say something about our media.

McCully lies

PS. Technically Murray's right when he says, "the decline that occurred in trade is not the consequence of sanctions or countersanctions" , (because the sanctions weren't trade sanctions) but actually it's a big fat lie. This government, especially Murray McCully were right into Washington's sanctions.

This is from 2014. 

Sanctions against Russia symbolic, McCully admits