Pakistan, Eritrea to expand military cooperation
June 3, 2006 (ISLAMABAD) — Eritrea expressed desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan in all fields, including defence, particularly, for training of their armed forces personnel in Pakistani institutions.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz held talks with the Eritrean Defence Minister Gen Sebhat Ephrem Emmanuel who started an official to Islamabad since Friday 2 June.
At the end of the meeting, the visiting Eritrean Defence minister said “We had a very fruitful talk with prime minister who was kind enough to tell us all the advantages that we can benefit out of the development in this country, including training for our people, equipment for our troops.”
“As you are aware, we are having problem in our borders with Ethiopia. It was already decided by the court in Hague and we are working for peace and the prime minister was simply consolidating that peace is something very important for development and he was kind enough to encourage us to work for peace and of course to look forward for a better future”, the minister further added.
The visiting Eritrean official met Friday 2 June with the Senior Federal Minister and Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal. The meeting underlined the need for promoting greater interaction and collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries.
It stressed the need for intensifying and broadening defence cooperation between the two countries. It was agreed to enhance military interaction through exchange of visit by the armed forces of the two countries.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of providing training to the military personnel of Eritrea by Pakistan.
Gen Sebhat Ephrem Emmanuel briefed the defence minister of Pakistan about his visit to Pakistan’s defence production units and appreciated the equipment produced there.
He thanked the government of Pakistan for extending diplomatic support to the people of Eritrea during their struggle for independence.
He termed his visit to Pakistan as highly fruitful and said it would further cement the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
(ST)