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Asmara strengthens ties with Khartoum

Written by Administrator

Friday, 14 November 2008

Asmara, 13 November 2008 - President Isaias Afwerki, who is in Sudan on a two-day official working visit, held talks last night with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir. In the meeting, the two sides agreed to take serious steps aimed at further enhancing Eritrean-Sudanese cooperation and speed up the implementation of previously concluded accords.

In the discussion focusing on bilateral relations, the Darfur peace process and other Sudanese issues, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern to both countries, President Omar Al-Beshir lauded the efforts Eritrea is exerting to promote peace in the Sudan. He pointed out that President Isaias’ participation in the closing session of the “Conference of the Sudanese People’s Initiative towards Peaceful Resolution of the Darfur Issue” fully attests to the bilateral ties that continues to gain momentum from time to time.

Likewise, President Isaias asserted that Eritrea would step up its modest role towards promoting peace in Sudan in general and Darfur in particular.

It is to be noted that in a speech he delivered yesterday at the closing session of the “Conference of the Sudanese People’s Initiative towards Peaceful Resolution of the Darfur Issue,” the President asserted that the people and Government of Eritrea would stand alongside the brotherly people of Sudan for the success of the initiative.

Meanwhile, President Isaias held talks last night with Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, Sudanese Presidential Assistant, on the development of Eritrean-Sudanese relations and steps that need to be taken to enhance it, as well as the Darfur peace process and the initiative of the Sudanese people.

Indicating that the Sudanese people have the capacity and competence to resolve their issues themselves, especially that of Darfur, the President expressed Eritrea’s readiness to collaborate with Sudanese brothers for the success of the initiative.

Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie told reporters following the meeting that relations between Eritrea and Sudan has assumed higher level and asserted that there exists desire and readiness on the part of both governments to further enhance it.

In the meantime, the President visited the residence of Maulana Mohammed Osman Al-Mirghani and expressed condolences over the passing away of Ahmed Al-Mirghani, former Sudanese President and Deputy Chairman of the National Democratic Alliance Party.

Reports also indicated that President Isaias held talks with the Sudanese Vice President, Mr. Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, and the Presidential Assistant, Mr. Mussa Mohammed Ahmed, as well as the Secretary General of the SPLM, Mr. Pagan Amom, on bilateral relations and the Sudanese peace agreements.

The President left for Khartoum in the morning hours yesterday on a two-day working visit at the invitation of the Sudanese government.