Sudan regrets for Ki-moon statements on expel of two UN officials

December 27, 2014-Khartoum-SudaneseOnline-Sudan’s Foreign Ministry expressed its regret for statements made by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sudan’s decision to expel UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ali Za’atari and UN Development Programme Country Director Yvonne Helle from the country.
In statement it issued on Friday, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said it ordered Za’atari to leave for "insulting the Sudanese people and its political leadership in an interview with a Norwegian newspaper, while Helle, a Dutch national, was expelled because she was "strongly prejudiced against the Sudanese government" and "treated Sudanese officials with arrogance"
“Sudan is not targeting the United Nations by virtue of being an original member [of the UN] and committed to the provisions of its charter and appreciates its efforts to achieve security, stability and development in Sudan. It is actually striving to develop this relationship in accordance with the provisions of the UN charter and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council”.
The expulsions are the latest in a string of incidents with aid and humanitarian workers -- in April, Khartoum told the American chief of the UN Population Fund to leave for "interfering" in internal affairs.
They also come amid heightened tensions between Sudan and the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur.
A bid by the mission to investigate a report that government forces raped 200 women and girls in a Darfur village has sparked anger in Khartoum.
Sudan demanded UNAMID form an "exit strategy" and told it to shut a human rights office in Khartoum.

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