Netherlands rejects call for apology

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, May 8 (UPI) -- The ruling political parties in the Netherlands rejected an opposition party call to issue an apology to Surinam for the country's involvement in slavery there.

The Christian Democrats and Labor Party turned down a request by Socialist Party Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel for Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende to issue the apology, Radio Netherlands reported Wednesday.

Bommel believes Balkenende should apologize next week when he is on a trip to the Surinamese capital Paramaribo, the report said.

It is reported Kathleen Ferrier of the Christian Democrats and Chantal Gill'ard of the Labor Party believes the apology would have no positive effect on relations between Surinam and the Netherlands.

"It would be more valuable for us to learn from the past and see that the abolition of slavery liberated both the Netherlands and Surinam," Gill'ard said.