'Lebanon has same ideas as N.Z.’

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 4

'Lebanon has same ideas as N.Z.’

PA Wellington Lebanon’s Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Raymond Heneine, believes his country has the support of New Zealand opinion.

In Wellington Mr Heneine said that New Zealand and Lebanon believed in the same ideas of democracy, liberty and human rights. “New Zealand and Lebanon have one idea and that is to live in peace,” he said. Mr Heneine said that he believed in the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to have their own country, but not in Lebanon. Lebanon housed a population the size of New Zealand’s in an area no bigger than greater Wellington. “To give a part of Lebanon to another people is impossible. It is impossible ,to resolve one injustice without creating a bigger injustice,” he said.

“We do not accept that international 'countries should resolve the Palestinian question in Lebanon against the Lebanese interest. Lebanon is first for the Lebanese."

Mr Heneine said he hoped that Lebanon would achieve peace and freedom in three months, but this would depend on the help of other democratic and liberal countries.

Mr Heneine, who lives in Canberra, is visiting New Zealand and addressed some of New Zealand’s 10,000 Lebanese people in Auckland this week. He has also spoken to the Lebanese community in Dunedin.