Lebanon Ambassador to Canada Raymond Baaklini's interview with Al-Mustakbal weekly, published in Montreal, Canada, and addressing the arrest of Mr. Bruce Balfour by the Lebanese Authorities.
Headlines
Baaklini: No crisis between Beirut & Ottawa
Canadian Foreign Ministry: Lebanon did not breach the international covenants
The arrest of, Bruce Balfour, the Canadian priest, from Calgary provance,
in Lebanon on charges of dealing (collaborating) is interacting (getting a
great deal of reactions) in the Canadian newspapers. But the crisis between the
two states, Canada and Lebanon that did arise after breaking of the arrest news, has
started to calm after the clarification of issues that were not clear before.
In this frame (context) Al-Mustakbal contacted Lebanon's ambassador to
Canada, Mr. Raymond Baaklini, asking for clarifications (on the Balfour case). His
reply was "The exaggeration of the news has its well-known background since the media
that is controlled by certain parties seek to exaggerate every news item pertaining to
Israel". In regards to Balfour, the ambassador said: " Balfour's activities in
Lebanon were under observation, especially in the border zone (South Lebanon), and
Balfour knew very well the substance of Lebanese law that prohibits entry to Lebanon to
any individual who has entered Israel and whose passport still carries the (Israeli)
entry stamp". Baaklini questioned Balfour's objectives in exhibiting this stamp as if
he wanted to instigate that crisis, especially since he resides more in Israel than in
Canada". Previous news had indicated that Balfour received many letters in regards to
his activities in Lebanon, and that he knew very well what could result from his
continuing with them. It is confirmed that he had worked in the " Voice of Hope"
broadcasting station that used to air from the border zone during the (Israeli)
occupation. Balfour is not the only one to be accused in this case, and his colleague Gary
Livingstone who resides in Israel for the past 27 years is also accused of complicity with
him in delivering information that Balfour brought to him.
In this regard, Ambassador Baaklini said: "Balfour is accused of security issues, and
Lebanese military law allows information blackout except (sic) after the
investigation. For other political detentions, public notification takes place on the
request of the detained individual himself, in which case the authorities must secure the
communication". The ambassador added: "Balfour's sister quoted him as saying
that his treatment by the Lebanese authorities was good". Baaklini clarified to
Al-Mustakbal that security arrests are not carried out unless the authorities are certain
that the charges are confirmed. He stated that the Canadian government understands the
situation and trusts the Lebanese judiciary. In fact, it is on this basis that Mr. Amin
Nassar was elected in Canada (during an international conference) president of the World
Constitutional Councils, and Canada was the first country to vote for him, which indicates
that that the Lebanese judiciary is internationally recognized".
As to the letters that were sent to the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry from members of
the Lebanese community, Human Rights organizations, and rightist leader Stockwell Day,
Baaklini said: "Day could have his own personal scores to settle with Mr. Jean
Chrétien's government which is looking quietly into the case. He also might be a friend
of Israel. Which is why he wants to attack us, except that the relations between the two
countries will not deteriorate and will not be affected at all. Ambassador Baaklini called
on the Lebanese to be patient while awaiting the ruling of the judiciary, and not to give
the case more than it deserves. He announced Lebanon's intention to open its doors to any
lawyer and that Canada can appoint whoever it wants in this case.
On the other hand, Al-Mustakbal called the Canadian Foreign Ministry to hear its
perspective on progress in the case, and the spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry for
Middle East Affairs, Ms. Marie-Christiane Lilkoff, confirmed that Balfour is receiving
good treatment during his detention. She did not think that the Lebanese authorities
violated international treaties, but the Canadian government would have preferred to learn
early on of the detention operation. In an answer to a question, Lilkoff denied that a
specific policy targeting Canadian nationals in the Middle East is behind the arrest of
Balfour, adding in this context that "there are no more Canadian prisoners in the
Middle East than in the United States or any other country". Lilkoff expressed the
confidence that the Canadian government has in the Lebanese judiciary, hoping that Balfour
will have a fair trial.
(Translated from Arabic by: the CLHRF Media Committee)