|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Posted on 01/16/2003 4:13:05 PM PST by knighthawk
But ambassador still holds that media controlled by 'Zionist Party'
OTTAWA (CP) - Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham says he has accepted an apology from the Lebanese ambassador for controversial comments about Canada's decision to ban Hezbollah.
But the Canadian Jewish Congress said Ambassador Raymond Baaklini didn't go far enough to withdraw his "ugly remarks."
Baaklini met with Graham on Thursday and apologized for some of his comments to the the Montreal Arab-language newspaper Sada al-Machrek.
He told the paper that Canada outlawed Hezbollah - a terrorist group based in Lebanon which also has a charitable arm - under pressure from a "Zionist party" that controls most of the Canadian media.
Baaklini also said he had been told "Canadian police always suspect every man with a beard and every woman with a veil."
And he suggested Canadians travelling in the Arab world shouldn't wear Canada T-shirts.
Graham said that after meeting with Baaklini, he was "confident that the ambassador fully understands our position" and the matter is now closed.
"The ambassador and I had a full discussion," Graham said in a news release.
"I explained to him that some of the language he used was not acceptable in Canada. He said that he regretted that his comments had caused offence and controversy and has written to me to that effect."
In a letter to Graham, Baaklini apologized for criticizing Canadian police and said Lebanon respects Judaism. But he did not withdraw his comment about Zionist influence. It was not clear if he addressed that issue in his meeting with Graham.
The Canadian Jewish Congress jumped on the omission.
"Ambassador Baaklini has once again refused to retract his ugly remarks, which are so reflective of the endemic anti-Semitism in the official Arab world," said congress president Keith Landy.
"We trust that in private, the foreign minister impressed upon the Lebanese representative the totally unacceptable and un-Canadian nature of his comments and that henceforth the ambassador at least publicly will refrain from such reprehensible conduct."
Baaklini could not be reached for comment and Graham's office did not return calls on the matter.
In his letter, the ambassador wrote:
"Like Canada, Lebanon is a multicultural country of very diverse traditions that respects Judaism, as it does Islam and Christianity, as a part of our culture.
"It was not my intention to criticize the police in Canada because I am convinced that they respect the diversity of Canada's communities.
"I regret that my comments caused offence and that they created a controversy."
Canada froze the assets of Hezbollah's military wing last year, but did not ban the group outright until December, following protests led by the Canadian Alliance and Canadian Jewish groups.
The move angered Lebanon, where Hezbollah is viewed as an Islamic resistance movement against Israel and has elected members of Parliament.
Canada: Lebanese envoy blames outcry on 'Zionist' media (and Christian fanatics too)
Palestinian terrorists? Not on CBC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actually, they should be suspicious of the opposite.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.