Defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop told parliament on Tuesday afternoon he sees no reason to ask for an apology from Sudanese government or to end government aid to the country after not being given a visa.

His remarks, quoted on ANP news service, follow news earlier in the day that he had been refused an entry visa by the Sudanese government just days before he was due to visit the country.
The Volkskrant reported that the Sudanese had not given a reason, but the Dutch government suspected a reaction to Geert Wilders’ anti-Koran film Fitna. ‘They will not say so to our face,’ a top civil servant was quoted as saying.
Van Middelkoop planned to visit Dutch soldiers who are taking part in the United Nations’ mission which is policing the peace accord between the Islamic north of the country and the mainly Christian south. The soldiers’ stay was extended last Friday. He also planned talks with Sudanese authorities.
Plans for Van Middelkoop to travel on to Ethiopia and Burundi have also been cancelled, said the Volkskrant.
A few weeks ago Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir called on his countrymen to boycott Danish products, companies and organisations in protest at the Danish cartoons showing Mohammed.
The Netherlands and Denmark are among the most important aid donors to Sudan, says the Volkskrant. The Netherlands donates €140m a year.