Moscow Interest In N.Z.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30981, 10 February 1966, Page 12

Moscow Interest In N.Z.

(New Zealand Prese Association) WELLINGTON, February 9. New Zealand Day was celebrated in Moscow yesterday by a meeting at Friendship House, according to a cabled report received in Wellington from the Russian press agency. Novosti.

The agency says more than 100 people who came there applauded when “wishes for peace and prosperity to the distant people of New Zealand” were expressed by Professor Kuzma Ivanov, of Moscow State University, the U.S.S.R.-New Zealand Society president In a 30-minute address. Professor Ivanov spoke of scientific and cultural exchanges between the two countries and of work done by the society in making the Soviet people familiar with life in New Zealand and in developing contacts between the people of the two couni tries. | Professor Ivanov regretted i

that the New Zealand authorities had sent 120 men in an artillery battery to participate in the Vietnamese war. He said that in his opinion this act “contradicts the interests of strengthening peace and relaxing international tensions.” Professor Ivanov, who was iin New Zealand twice to do research on geography, called upon those present to “continue making efforts to imi prove understanding and dejvelop friendship and coI operation between the people of the two countries." An exhibition of New Zealand books was displayed at i the meeting.