Foreign and Military Affairs

NZ PM rejects accusations of 'degrading' apology

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-21 20:50

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has rejected accusations of "degrading" apology to a Chinese delegation for the mess outside Parliament on Friday involving Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.

According to report by NZPA, Norman was waving a Tibetan flag when Chinese vice president Xi Jinping arrived, and members of the Chinese delegation tried to put an umbrella over him. But Norman managed to loudly told the Chinese delegation they could not suppress freedom of speech in New Zealand.

Prime Minister John Key called a senior member of the delegation and apologized for the incident, which provoked Norman to accuse him of "degrading" behavior on Monday and demand that the prime minister stand up for free speech and democracy.

Key told NZPA the issue had nothing to do with freedom of speech.

"The apology was in relation to our failure to provide proper security for the vice president when he entered and exited Parliament," he said from South Africa where he watched the World Cup match between NZ and Italy.

Key said he was going to take the matter up with the Diplomatic Protection Squad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament's Speaker when he returned.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully has criticized Norman for staging the protest, and thought Norman had abused his position as a MP.