Eritrea denies Sudan “baseless” accusations on Darfur rebels
Sept 25, 2006 (ASMARA) – Eritrea has denied vigorously Sudanese president accusations of backing Darfur rebels. As press statement described Bashir’s statement as “baseless and unproductive”.
A press statement issued by the Eritrean Foreign Ministry said Asmara is “expressing its grievances over President Omer Hassen Albeshir’s baseless and unproductive remarks” on the Eritrean interference in Darfur crisis.
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, has asked Sunday Eritrea to expel Darfur rebel National Redemption Front (NRF) from its territory. He added, “we reject any role by Eritrea in the Darfur issue” stressing that Sudan is committed to maintain its good ties with Eritrea based on good neighborhood.
These accusations “come at a time when the government of Eritrea is working ceaselessly towards the finding of a comprehensive peaceful political solution to the Sudan” the statement said.
Eritrea is sponsoring a peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebel eastern Front. The east has Sudan’s largest gold mine and its main port where its oil pipelines take exports to the world market. But despite its rich resources it remains one of the country’s poorest regions.
However, Eritrea reaffirmed “its commitment to continue its unyielding role and efforts towards achieving sustainable peace and stability in the Sudan” the statement said.
On 27 August, the Eritrean and Sudanese ruling parties signed a close cooperation deal on regional and international issues, bilateral relations. Sudan intended to hold mediation between Asmara and Addis Ababa at the end of the Eastern Sudan talks.
Eritrean-Sudanese relations have substantially warmed in recent months. Asmara sent an ambassador to Khartoum in June and the Sudanese ambassador departed to Asmara his month.
Previously the two countries had no diplomatic relations because an array of Sudanese opposition parties and military movements had a presence on Eritrean territory, and Khartoum accused Asmara of running training camps for rebels.
Most of the opposition groups have since either signed agreements with Khartoum or are in peace negotiations.
(ST)