Sweden has recalled its ambassador to Sri Lanka after authorities of the island-republic denied Foreign Minister Carl Bildt a visa to enter the country, reports say.
Stockholm recalled its ambassador to Sri Lanka, Borje Mattsson, after Colombo had declined to accept his participation in a joint mission there with his French and U.K. counterparts, Bernard Kouchner and David Miliband, due Wednesday.
"The decision was taken without any explanation whatsoever. And no one seems to understand what may lie behind this truly strange maneuver," Carl Bildt said Tuesday.
The Swedish Foreign Minister said the Sri Lankan decision not to accept him was "not good" for Stockholm's relations with Colombo, adding that he planned to recall Sweden's chargé d' affaires in Sri Lanka for consultations. He said the recall was meant to send "a strong diplomatic signal" to the government in Colombo.
In Luxembourg attending a meeting of the E.U. foreign ministers, Bildt told reporters he didn't believe the rejection was permanent. "I am not persona non grata because they say I am welcome at another time, but I am not intending to take up that invitation," he said.
However, Bildt said he wanted Miliband and Kouchner not to call off the trip, citing the "serious humanitarian and political situation" in the island-nation's north.
Meanwhile, a top Sri Lankan foreign ministry official confirmed that Colombo did not want Bildt to take part in a mission by his British and French counterparts, which will go ahead as planned Wednesday.
The trip was meant to show support to the efforts of the United Nations by putting pressure on the Colombo government to agree to a cease-fire which would enable civilians to leave the conflict area unharmed.
RTT
Stockholm recalled its ambassador to Sri Lanka, Borje Mattsson, after Colombo had declined to accept his participation in a joint mission there with his French and U.K. counterparts, Bernard Kouchner and David Miliband, due Wednesday.
"The decision was taken without any explanation whatsoever. And no one seems to understand what may lie behind this truly strange maneuver," Carl Bildt said Tuesday.
The Swedish Foreign Minister said the Sri Lankan decision not to accept him was "not good" for Stockholm's relations with Colombo, adding that he planned to recall Sweden's chargé d' affaires in Sri Lanka for consultations. He said the recall was meant to send "a strong diplomatic signal" to the government in Colombo.
In Luxembourg attending a meeting of the E.U. foreign ministers, Bildt told reporters he didn't believe the rejection was permanent. "I am not persona non grata because they say I am welcome at another time, but I am not intending to take up that invitation," he said.
However, Bildt said he wanted Miliband and Kouchner not to call off the trip, citing the "serious humanitarian and political situation" in the island-nation's north.
Meanwhile, a top Sri Lankan foreign ministry official confirmed that Colombo did not want Bildt to take part in a mission by his British and French counterparts, which will go ahead as planned Wednesday.
The trip was meant to show support to the efforts of the United Nations by putting pressure on the Colombo government to agree to a cease-fire which would enable civilians to leave the conflict area unharmed.
RTT
