Free Republic

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...

Baaklini repeats statement despite Canadian warning Lebanon's embattled ambassador to Canada is blaming Christian fanatics and newspapers "under the control of Zionist groups" for making a scandal out of his recent undiplomatic remarks about his host country. Despite being warned by Canadian Foreign Affairs officials last week that his remarks about Jewish influence in Canada were unacceptable, Raymond Baaklini was quoted yesterday in the Arab press repeating similar claims. Saudi Arabian and Lebanese newspapers reported the ambassador had said that only Christian immigrants from Lebanon and the "Zionist" press were making an issue of his remarks about Canada. Mr. Baaklini...

Ottawa angered by remarks on Zionism OTTAWA - Lebanon's ambassador yesterday did not retract controversial comments about the power of the "Zionist movement" in Canada, despite being summoned to a meeting with Foreign Affairs officials who told him they were "unacceptable and without foundation." Bill Graham, the Foreign Affairs Minister, ordered Raymond Baaklini to appear before Canadian officials to explain remarks he made to an Arabic-language newspaper saying Canada was pressured by a "Zionist party" and Jewish-controlled media to designate Hezbollah as an outlawed terrorist organization. Amid calls for Ottawa to expel Mr. Baaklini, the ambassador met yesterday afternoon with...