Romania apologizes, summons Kenya envoy over racist 'monkey' slur
The Romanian envoy in Nairobi compares African diplomats to monkeys at a conference he was chairing.
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Romania's Ambassador to Kenya Dragos Tigau (AFP)
Romania is withdrawing its ambassador to Kenya and has apologized after the diplomat likened African diplomats to monkeys at a conference he was chairing.
“The African Group has joined us,” Ambassador Dragos Tigau said when a monkey appeared at a window in the conference room, according to the letter demanding an apology seen by CNN.
CNN received confidential documents revealing indignation from African diplomats who threatened to walk out of sessions attended by the envoy.
Chol Ajongo, South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya stated that the "African Group would like to condemn in strongest terms possible the insulting, racist and degrading utterances.”
According to another document, the deputy Russian Ambassador "reprimanded" the Romanian official for his words, for which he apologized "after some hesitation."
African diplomats received two apology letters from Tigau and noted how his comments happened after "a long, heated, and highly debated meeting," and with the intention of easing the tension. That part was later withdrawn from his letter.
Tigau did not respond to comments from CNN.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry in Bucharest issued a statement on Saturday, saying “Any racist behavior or comments are absolutely unacceptable," stating that it just learned of the incident on June 8, despite the fact that it occurred around the end of April.
The Ministry has “initiated the procedure of recalling” Ambassador Dragos Viorel Tigau from his post in Kenya, the statement further added.
The Ministry “deeply regrets this situation, apologizes to all those affected and strongly rejects and condemns any behavior and any attitude incompatible with mutual respect,” according to the statement, hoping that the unusual occurrence would not have an impact on its "deep relations" with African nations.
A European diplomat told CNN that Tigau was only joking when he made his comments and that he didn't have "any racist inclinations."
The anonymous source added that had any other animal appeared, he would have made similar comments.
