Sudan News Agency

Khartoum, Aug. 8 (SUNA) - The Government announced Sunday suspension of the agreement signed between the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the National Radio Corporation as of the 9th of current August for carrying out by the BBC of acts that violate the provisions of the agreement and the national laws

A statement issued by the Government Sunday on suspension of BBC.FM service in Sudan said the Ministry of Information points out that the decision does not relate to the news service provided by the BBC in Sudan and that the door of dealings will remain open to correct the mistakes made, hoping that dealings will be made in the framework of governmental agreement that determines commitments and where there are opportunities for equal treatment and giving consideration to the principles of the international relations in such cases

The statement enumerated the acts carried out by the BBC that violated the provisions of the agreement, including bringing in equipment of live TV broadcast (SNG) through the diplomatic pouch of the British Embassy

The statement added that the BBC Trusr also carried out an information activity in Sudan without obtaining the final approval and without signing the executive programme with the Ministry which is stipulated by the law

The violations also included broadcast by the BBC of a service from Juba without obtaining permission and approval of the central government, despite BBC knowledge that moving to any town in Sudan without the approval of the licensing body is not permissible, whereas the BBC was given according to the agreement to retransmit its broadcast on the FM in each of Khartoum, Port Sudan, Medani and Al-Obeid

It is worth mentioning that at the initiative of the Sudanese Government represented in the National Radio and Television Corporation, an agreement was signed between the corporation and the BBC, according to which the BBC Arabic was given retransmitting its broadcast on the FM in each of Khartoum, Port Sudan, Medani and Al-Obeid

The agreement clearly determined the relation between the two parties and the types of the equipment used

BT/BT