Foreign minister not to receive US official in protest over Sudan embassy issue

KHARTOUM, Aug 29, 2004 (SUNA) — The Foreign Minister, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, has apologized to receive the Assistant US Secretary of State for African Affairs, who arrived here on Sunday, in a move considered as a protest of the American administration’s negative stance concerning the issue of Sudan Embassy in Washington.

In a press statement Sunday, Dr. Ismail said that the problems facing Sudan Embassy to Washington puts him in a position of inability to receive the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State, adding that the American official would be received by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

He said that there are responsibilities which shall be done by the country which is hosting embassies in accordance with international agreements.

The Foreign Minister said that the problem of Sudan Embassy in Washington began more than two months ago when an American bank refused to deal with it, while Sudan government has closed one of the major streets in Khartoum for the American Embassy.

He said that the American administration could have helped Sudan Embassy in Washington re-open an account at an American bank because any country with a central bank have an authority over its banks.

Dr. Ismail said that it was impossible for the embassy to carry out its work while it was suffering from financial difficulties and unable to pay the salaries of its staffers.

He said that there is no any moral or political justification for such a stance, indicating there shall be a step or decision to be adopted in this regard. Dr. Ismail said that the US Assistant Secretary of State should have dealt with this issue before visiting Khartoum.