Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Remembering those who died in war

Remembering those who died in war

In ceremonies across Aotearoa thousands  yesterday remembered those young men and women who have died or were injured fighting in the many wars in which New Zealand has participated.

We remember the bravery of the young men and women, and also the pain of their families back home. We remember the many innocent civilian victims of the conflicts. We remember a time when our foreign policy and the wars that we would participate in were  decided in London or other capitals.

New Zealand this century must continue to have a strong but appropriate  defence capability based on our needs and resources. And it must have  an independent and moral foreign policy based on international law that puts New Zealanders' interests first.

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