"Kingdom Confirms Recalling Envoy"-- (Saudi Arabia mad at Hungary)

[TexasLawyer]

Geeze-- if it's not one thing, it's another.

Kingdom Confirms Recalling Envoy
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab News

RIYADH, 21 February 2005 — An official at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday that Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador from Hungary after offensive remarks made by the Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. Following a friendly football match, the prime minister referred to the Saudi players as “Arab terrorists.”

The official in charge of media affairs at the ministry in Riyadh said, “I am aware of the incident and I can confirm that the Saudi ambassador to Hungary has been recalled for consultations.” The Hungarian ambassador to the Kingdom, Istvan Tolli, told Arab News that the prime minister had apologized for the comments which were made at a private party in “a casual manner with the intention of creating jokes and laughter.”

Tolli added, “I am awaiting an appointment with any senior official at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to deliver a letter to Crown Prince Abdullah from the Hungarian prime minister.” The ambassador explained, “This small incident has been blown out of proportion by the media.” He clarified that the visit of the speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, Katalin Szili, originally set for Feb. 19-22, had been “postponed” rather than “canceled” and that the speaker would travel to the Kingdom on a mutually agreed date in future.

<snip>

&category=Kingdom

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Geeze-- if it's not one thing, it's another.

My thoughts exactly.

What's next?

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. That remark was in really poor taste

and the Hungarian PM does need to apologize for it. Politicians, of all people, should be aware of how their words are received.

[lovuian]

3. The Saudis need to a better PR guy

This guy must have watched Michael Moores Movie!!!