Sudan defense minister hails ties with Ethiopia

May 14, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Sudanese Defense Minister hailed bilateral ties with Ethiopia, saying the multifarious cooperation between the governments of Ethiopia and Sudan has been growing.

After talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Monday, the Sudanese Minister Lieutenant General Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein told journalists that cooperation between the governments and peoples of the two countries in, among others, economic, political and social sectors was boosting.

Ethiopia is a strategic partner to Sudan, he said. Sharing a common border that runs 1,700 km, the two countries have been working closely for mutual benefits, the official ENA reported Monday.

He said discussions with the Prime Minister focused on the Ethio-Sudan bilateral cooperation as part of the ongoing consultations. He also delivered a message sent by Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir.

Ethiopia expressed concern over the use of the Sudanese territory by Ethiopian rebels based in Eritrea. Since last January Ethiopia says the Asmara backed rebels attack the positions of the army through the Sudanese border. Sudan at the beginning but after admitted the existence of such movements.

Experts says the Sudanese minister who a close fried to president al-Bashir, came to discuss ways to end these infiltrations.

(ST)