British ambassador resumes blog despite critcism ArticleComments (0). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 5, 2011 (KHARTOUM) - The British ambassador to Sudan resumed his controversial blog on Friday, striking a conciliatory tone after his last entry, which addressed inflation and the disputed region of Abyei, brought protests from Khartoum. Ambassador Nicholas Kay (UK Embassy)On Tuesday Nicholas Kay told journalists that despite being summoned by Khartoum’s foreign ministry over his October blog post - ’Celebrating World Food Day in Sudan?’ - he would continue writing. His most recent entry discussed a recent ministerial visit as well as cultural, educational and health care links between the two countries. He wrote that given the strength of UK-Sudan bilateral relations he was "concerned" that his last blog had caused a media storm and led to ’complaints from several sources.’ It was not his or the UK’s intention "to have a public falling out," he said. "The strength and depth of our relations should mean that we respect each other’s right to hold and express our views. On many issues we agree; on some we don’t. That seems to me entirely normal. We have known each other so long and so well that we should neither be surprised nor take umbrage if on occasion we do not see eye to eye." His previous blog questioned the rationale of celebrating World Food Day "in a country where hunger stalks the land," noting that it was no surprise that Khartoum had seen small protests about food prices. "You don’t have to travel to the periphery of Sudan to find hunger. Daily life in Khartoum is increasingly hard," Kay wrote in his October post. Speaking to Reuters on Tuesday, Kay said he was "very pleased the blog has stimulated a debate about some of these important issues." Sudan’s economic situation has deteriorated dramatically since South Sudan seceded in July, taking with it 75% of Sudan’s oil revenues. On the black market in Khartoum, at times, dollars could be exchanged at almost twice the official rate last month. In August annual inflation reached 21% causing food price protests in the capital. The pro-government media in Khartoum are regularly critical of Kay’s blog. In August a newspaper called for him to be expelled after he wrote that it was the Sudanese government’s choice, "whether the national budget for the intelligence service continues to be higher than the budget for education.." Britain has recently announced it will provide £4.8 million to fund the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan for aid projects in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile where various rebel groups are fighting the government. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
