Egyptian diplomat gives a warning

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 1

Egyptian diplomat gives a warning

’A Wellington A warning that New Zealand faced action against it by non-aligned nations and the Third World at international forums came from the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Wellington (Dr I. Z. Sorour) yesterday. The senior representative of the only Middle Eastern country with a diplomatic mission in New Zealand said he was afraid that the day would come when New Zealand would be classified by the Third World in the same category as. Rhodesia, South Africa—and Portugal as it once was. The envoy’s warnings came hours after he had spoken to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, before which he was believed to have given a strong speech urging New Zealand to think again on the course it was following in maintaining sporting links with South Africa.

Egypt is one of the countries to have withdrawn its team from the Montreal Olympics because of the All Black tour issue.

“Let me know where New Zealand's products go if thev don’t go to the European Community and Britain.” he said. ‘‘New Zealand needs the new developing markets of the Middle East and Africa.”

Dr Sorour said action about New Zealand might come at next month's meeting of non-aligned States at Colombo, Sri Lanka, and later in the year at the United Nations General Assembly. “For us apartheid is a wrong social form.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Trade (Mr Taiboys), said in an interview that he did not th)nk anyone could give an answer to the question whether New Zealand’s trading relationship with developing countries would be affected. “I would hope not. I have no evidence to suggest that it will." Mr Taiboys said he thought that the Government had done all it could to explain internationally

its opposition to apartheid, and rejected proposals that it should embark on a major diplomatic campaign overseas.

He disputed claims that the Government had been hypocritical in sending a letter to Commonwealth countries saying it did not encourage sporting links with South Africa about

the same time that the Under-Secretary for Sport and Recreation (Mr Comber) was farewelling the All Blacks in Auckland. He was sure that the people of New Zealand wanted Mr Comber to go Auckland; and the meaning of his visit was to express the hope that the All Blacks would win.