June 1, 1991 The Right Honourable
M. Brian Mulroney Prime Minister of Canada Ottawa, Ontario Dear Mr. Prime
Minister: We rejoice with the State of Israel in the miraculous rescue
of Ethiopian Jews from famine and war, and their airlift to freedom. The
whole world saw thousands of black Jews being welcomed to Israel by their
families and friends. This is Zionism in action: the return of the
Jewish people to its historic homeland. Now is the time to revoke the United
Nations' resolution 3379 which declared "that Zionism is a form of racism
and racial discrimination." Canada voted against this false malicious statement
in 1975. Let Canada lead the way in pressing for its repeal in 1991. A
background pamphlet is enclosed for your information. Respectfully submitted,
Alan Lazerte Executive Director Canadian Friends of the I.C.E.J. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replies received: June 11, 1991 Mr. Alan Lazerte Executive Director Canadian
Friends of the International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem Oakville, Ontario
L6J 5C1 Dear Mr. Lazerte: On behalf of the Honourable Lowell Murray, I
acknowledge receipt and thank you for your letter of June 1, 1991, with
attachment concerning the United Nations Resolution 3379. Please be assured
that your correspondence has been brought to the Senator's attention. Yours
sincerely, Dominique La Salle Chief of Staff Office of the Leader of the
Government in the Senate --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 17, 1991 Dear Mr. Lazerte, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of June 1, 1991, and the appended pamphlet dealing with racism and racial
discrimination. Your views and comments have been well noted and I have
taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your correspondence to my colleague,
The Honourable Barbara McDougall, Secretary of State for External Affairs
for her consideration. Trusting this is to your entire satisfaction, I
beg to remain, Yours sincerely, Marcel Masse Minister of National Defence
Ottawa, Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 27, 1991 Dear Mr. Lazerte, Thank you for your letter of June 1, 1991,
with respect to the Middle East. I have forwarded your letter to the Secretary
of State for External Affairs, The Honourable Barbara McDougall, so that
she may be apprised of your views and concerns. Thank you again for taking
the time to inform the Minister about this important subject. With best
wishes, Yours sincerely, Jim Judd Associate Chief of Staff to The Right
Honourable Joe Clark Office of the President of the Privy Council and Minister
Responsible for Constitutional Affairs Ottawa, Canada July 26, 1991 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Lazerte, I am writing further to my letter dated June 10, 1991
concerning United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (adopted in
1975) which declared ""hat Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination".
As you know, I have been in touch with the Hon. Barbara McDougall, Secretary
of State for External Affairs in this regard and I have now heard from
her as follows: "Thank you for your enquiry in which you brought to my
attention correspondence you received from Mr. Alan Lazerte, Executive
Director of Canadian Friends of the International Christian Embassy - Jerusalem
concerning United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (adopted in
1975) which declared "that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination.
"I wish to assure you and through you, Mr. Lazerte, that the Canadian government
shares his belief that this is a malicious statement. In his last speech
to the United Nations General Assembly in September of 1990, my predecessor,
the Right Honourable Joe Clark, stated inter alia
that Canada abhors: 'such blemishes on this Organization as the odious
Resolution equating Zionism with racism, passed 15 years ago by this Assembly.'
"When there are clear prospects that such a campaign would have a chance
of succeeding in the General Assembly, Canada is prepared to work actively
to have this resolution neutralized. "The essential focus, I believe, is
for the international community to work for movement of the peace process
in the Middle East. Progress towards a peace settlement will, I hope, in
due course, engender the climate which would allow for a successful campaign
to overturn the 'Zionism (is) Racism' resolution." Trusting you will find
this information to be of some assistance. I remain, Yours sincerely, The
Hon. Herb Gray, M.P. Windsor West House of Commons Ottawa Canada --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 6, 1991 Dear Mr. Lazerte: Thank you for your letter of June 1st
regarding the State of Israel and in particular, United Nations Resolution
3379 which equates Zionism with racism. As I stated on several occasions
- both in and out of the House of Commons - the attacks on Israel during
the Gulf War totally disregarded Israel's right to exist and to defend
itself. Liberals commend the people of Israel for remarkable restraint
in spite of the brutal provocation. The end of the war marks only the beginning
of a much more difficult challenge facing the international community -
the challenge of reconstruction, and stabilization in the Middle East.
For your information, I have enclosed a copy of my
June 14th speech entitled: "Pursuing a Vision: Canadian Foreign Policy
and the New Internationalism." It touches on the Middle East situation
and the lessons learned from the war. I have also enclosed a copy of the
speech made on my behalf to the Canada-Israel Committee by Sheila Copps,
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. In it, Liberals call upon the
Mulroney government to press for the repeal of Resolution 3379. Again,
thank you for your letter on this important matter. Sincerely, Jean Chrétien
House of Commons, Ottawa Leader of the Opposition --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 8, 1991 Dear Mr. Lazerte: The Secretary of State for External
Affairs, the Honourable Barbara McDougall, has asked me to reply to your
letter of June 1, 1991, regarding Canada's position on the repeal of the
odious 1975 United Nations (UN) General Assembly "Zionism is racism" resolution.
The Minister of Employment and Immigration, the Honourable Bernard Valcourt,
has also written on your behalf. Please excuse the delay in replying. This
resolution is, and always has been, offensive to the Canadian government
and to Canadians. Canada voted against the resolution in 1975, and has
worked to keep references to it out of other UN resolutions. In (your)
letter, you have asked to decisive action on Canada's part concerning this
resolution. As you may be aware, Canada's position on repealing this resolution
has already been forcefully expressed by Mrs. McDougall, in her speech
on September 25, 1991, to the 46th session of the UN General Assembly.
She stated that "within our purview, a decision by this General Assembly
to rescind the infamous Zionism is racism resolution would send a powerful
and positive signal". Since then, Canada's view has been reiterated at
the UN in the Canadian statement on Racism by the Honourable Walter McLean
to the UN's 3rd committee. We will be working with our friends at the UN
to maximize the chances for a successful campaign at this General Assembly.
I can assure you that Canada will continue to work for a successful conclusion
to this campaign. Yours sincerely, Andrew N. Robinson Director, Middle
East Relations Division External Affairs and International Trade Canada
c.c. The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, P.C.,
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