BRUSSELS, Oct 2 (KUNA) -- The European Union Sunday said it "profoundly regrets and rejects this unjustified and unilateral decision" after Nicaragua expelled the Head of the EU Delegation.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a statement today noted that the Nicaraguan authorities informed Head of the EU Delegation to Nicaragua, Bettina Muscheidt, on Wednesday, that she had been declared persona non grata, and had to leave the country by this Saturday.
"These hostile and unwarranted actions will not only affect the bilateral relations between Nicaragua and EU and its Member States, but will also lead to further international isolation of Nicaragua," he said.
The EU is considering the appropriate way forward and will respond in a firm and proportional manner, state the EU foreign policy chief.
The EU also "profoundly regrets the disproportional and unjustified unilateral decision taken on Friday by the Nicaraguan government to cut diplomatic ties with the kingdom of the Netherlands and expresses its unwavering support to the Dutch government," he said.
"The EU remains open to dialogue with Nicaragua, provided that this dialogue is conducted in a respectful manner," he added.
According to Dutch media reports, Nicaragua broke diplomatic relations with the Netherlands, claiming the Dutch are "interfering and "interventionist".
Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega last week accused the Dutch ambassador, Christine Pirenne, of speaking to locals as if "Nicaragua is a colony of the Netherlands," Dutch News NL reported. (end) nk.hm