UAE recalls envoy to Sweden, summons Swedish ambassador

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled Sultan Rashid Al Kaitoob, UAE Ambassador to Sweden, in the wake of offending remarks against Saudi Arabia by Foreign Minister of Sweden, Margot Wallstrom, against Saudi Arabia.

The UAE ministry summoned the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the United Arab Emirates, Jan Thesleff, to deliver a formal memorandum of protest, following the abusive remarks by the Swedish minister.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, referred in a statement to the "condemnation by the United Arab Emirates of strong statements made by the Foreign Minister of Sweden to the Swedish Parliament against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its judicial system."

The Minister stressed that "these statements violate the principle of sovereignty upon which the normal relations between countries are based", adding that such remarks are deemed interference in internal affairs as they do not respect the religious and cultural particularities of states and communities.