Eritrean FM meets Sudanese opposition leaders in Cairo

CAIRO, Egypt, May 12, 2005 (ERINA) — The Eritrea delegation headed by Foreign Minister Ali Seid Abdalla yesterday held talks in Cairo with the Chairman of the opposition Sudanese National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani, and other leaders of the Alliance on the planned discussion forum between the NDA and the Sudanese government in the Egyptian capital.

In the meeting, the two sides reached understanding on the need to ensure both coordination among all the country’s opposition forces and the effective role of the Alliance so as to safeguard Sudan’s national unity.

Furthermore, pointing out the significance of continued consultation and exchange of ideas, the two sides reaffirmed their support to the peace agreement reached in Nairobi, Kenya, between the SPLM and the Sudanese government.

Mohammed Osman Al-Mirghani hosted a dinner reception in honor of the Eritrean delegation on the 11th of May at his residence. The reception was attended by a number of NDA leaders, the Democratic Unity party and Egyptian government officials.

Likewise, the Eritrea delegation held similar discussions with the Chairman of the Umma party, Al-Sadik Al-Mahdi.

It is to be recalled that the Eritrean delegation gave briefings at Cairo University’s Research Center on African and Arabic Studies on Ethiopia’s rejection of the EEBC ruling and the danger it poses to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. Commenting on the briefings, the head of the Center, Hilmi Al-Shaerawi, said that the institution believes such exchange of ideas should continue in the future.