Sudan’s to take part in Arab meeting on Saudi – Iran showdown

January 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Ghandour is due to take part in the Arab League’s ministerial council, called for by Saudi Arabia to discuss the assaults on its embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad .

Khartoum had preceded the emergency meeting by declaring its solidarity with the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia .It also followed the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and severed diplomatic relations with Tehran .

Foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters on Tuesday that Ghandour will take part in the Arab League’s emergency ministerial council ”that will take position on the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.”

Ghandour is also due to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart Samih Shoukri on the bilateral relations and make arrangements for a proposed meeting between presidents Omer al-Bashir and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a date for which will be announced later on.

The United Nations Security Council(UNSC) had Monday condemned the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran .

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN had turned down an apology from Tehran , presented to the UNSC on the matter. Tehran had also pledged to punish those responsible for the acts.

Brushing aside the Iranian apology , Saudi Arabia’s UN Ambassador Abdullah al-Mouallimi tied the normalization of his country’s relations with Iran to the latter’s future conduct.

He said the message of apology means nothing to his country .

The Saudi diplomat said Iran should promise to stop attacks on his country’s diplomatic missions, adding that the international community had recognized Tehran’s failure to protect diplomatic missions.

He said his country would restore its relations with Iran when the latter stops from interfering in other countries internal affairs, including those of his country.

(ST)