Egypt FM, Sudan FM, discuss AU summit, refugees’ death

Jan 20, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit held talks Friday with Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol Ajawin on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Executive Council meetings.

According to the Egyptian MENA, Abul Gheit discussed with the Sudanese official means to render the meetings a success.

The Egyptian top diplomat said the talks also took up the death of several Sudanese refugees in Egypt.

Abul Gheit added he clarified to the Sudanese official the circumstances that governed the Egyptian stance on the issue.

The Sudanese official was appreciative of the conditions that led to the situation, he added.

The Sudanese minister also highlighted the need to send a delegation from South Sudan to Egypt to have a hands-on experience of the developments of the issue, Abul Gheit said.

He added that discussions were also under way for a visit by an Egyptian delegation to the South.

Abul Gheit said the AU Executive Council meetings discussed technical issues and reports by the AU Commission and permanent delegates.

On the Sudan-Chad crisis, Abul Gheit said the issue was not probed during the meetings.

He said that a meeting was expected in the coming days between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gadhafi and President of Chad Idriss Deby to discuss the issue.

On Egypt’s role to solve the crisis, Abul Gheit said that Cairo was pursuing contacts with all parties.

“We also support efforts to ease tension and resolve the issue,” he added.

Abul Gheit said Egypt did not rebuff a proposal to send peacekeepers on borders between Sudan and Chad.

“But the AU, which currently has peacekeepers on duty in Darfur, neither have enough forces nor financial capabilities to send forces to the Sudan-Chad borders,” he maintained.