According to Mahdi Souli, member of Iran’s Islamic Coalition Party, a delegation from his party have been denied visa by Sudan for participation in an ICAPP meeting in Khartoum, although the party had been officially invited by the ICAPP secretariat.
Following Sudan’s undiplomatic and tactless conduct, Souli added, Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee of ICAPP Jose de Venecia –the Philippine’s former parliament speaker- sent a letter to Iran’s embassy in Manila, saying ICAPP officials would not attend the Sudan gathering in protest at visa denial for Iranians.
ICAPP has said it will hold a meeting in another country at a later date, he added.
The International Conference of Asian Political Parties was launched in Manila in September 2000 to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties with various ideologies from different Asian countries, to enhance mutual understanding and trust among Asian countries, and to promote Asia’s regional cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties, according to its website.