Sunday 12 August 2018 - 09:17
Story Code : 315440
Canada, US foreign ministers discuss Canada-Saudi Arabia row, sanctions on Iran
Sputnik - US State Secretary Mike Pompeo spoke on a phone with his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland and discussed the diplomatic row between Riyadh and Ottawa as well as the US sanctions on Iran, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
The relations betweenSaudi Arabia and Canada have been tense sincelast week, when the Canadian Foreign Ministry called onSaudi Arabia toimmediately release the human rights activists detained inthe country, which Riyadh considered asmeddling inits affairs.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador toCanada forconsultations, gave the Canadian ambassador toRiyadh only 24 hours toleave the country, froze trade transactions withCanada and announced the relocation ofSaudi citizens studying inCanadian universities toother countries.
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today withCanadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. They discussed the dispute betweenSaudi Arabia and Canada overCanadas call forreleasing civil rights activists. The Secretary also discussed Iran and Ukraine, Nauert said ina statement.
On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Freeland remains engaged intalks withthe government ofSaudi Arabia despitethe row. However, Trudeau stressed that Ottawa will continue to speak strongly onhuman rights violations.
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