Sudanese president calls for the creation of Horn of Africa, Red Sea area

KHARTOUM, Dec 28, 2004 (SUNA) — President of the Republic Omar Al-Bashir has announced an initiative for convening a conference of the Horn of Africa area and southern Red Sea on realization of security, peace, development, economic integration, good governance, democracy and human rights similar to that of the Great Lakes area, which was held recently.

This was disclosed by President Al-Bashir in his address to the opening session of the summit of Sana’a Cooperation Grouping at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum Monday.

He pointed out that the member states of grouping are looking forward for further efforts for boosting the organs of the grouping and enhancing join cooperation.

He affirmed the support of Sudan and other member states of the grouping to Somalia in realizing national unity, rehabilitation and stability, paving the way for socio-economic development that would enable Somalia to restore its effective role in the region.

Al-Bashir said the conference is held as the signing of the final peace agreement in the south is near, leading to a new stage of peace and security in Sudan that will reflect positively on the Horn of Africa area and southern Red Sea.

He said the government has exerted utmost efforts for ending the sedition in Darfur through dialogue, pointing out that the government has sent high-level delegations for talks in Abache, Abuja, N’djamena and Addis Ababa and pointing out that the lack of seriousness by the other party prevented reaching a peace agreement in the area.