Sudan hopes diplomat expulsion not affect ties with Canada

August 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government expressed hopes Tuesday that its relations with Canada would not be affected by its recent decision of expelling a Canadian diplomat.

“We have clarified that the decision was taken because of the Canadian diplomat’s personal behaviors which went beyond his mandate,” Ali Yousef, director of the Department of Protocol under the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua.

“Sudan has not severed its relations with Canada and had not demanded a closure of the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum,” the Sudanese official noted.

Yousef said consultations had been held between the foreign ministries of the two countries, but no results had been reached. He added that the Canadian diplomat had left Khartoum.

Last Thursday, the Sudanese government announced unexpectedly the expulsion of the charge d’affaires of the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum Nuala Lawlor and the head of the European Commission’s Mission in Sudan Kent Degerfeld, accusing them of “interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs.”

After receiving an apology from the European Commission, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir agreed to let Degerfeld stay in Khartoum until his term of works expires after three weeks.

The Canadian government, however, refused to apologize as what it claimed “this expulsion is entirely unjustified” and instead denounced Khartoum’s decision.

(Xinhua)