“No issue of difference between Eritrea and Sudan” -Eritrean FM

TRIPOLI, May 17, 2005 (ERINA) — Foreign Minister Ali Seid Abdalla disclosed that Presidents Isaias Afwerki and Omar Al-Beshir of Sudan held a meeting in Tripoli yesterday in which the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Al-Khadafi, was present.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (C) receives Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Tripoli, May 16, 2005. (ERINA) .

Pointing out that the meeting took place without prior preparations, Mr. Ali Seid said that it was held at the initiative of the Leader of the Libyan Revolution and that the Sudanese President came at the meeting place where President Isaias and Col. Muammar Al-Khadafi were discussing Eritrean-Libyan relations. Minister Ali Seid further explained that the Libyan leader’s initiative was aimed at resolving disagreements between Eritrean and the Sudan and settling possible differences.

In the meeting, President Isaias Afwerki informed Brother Muammar Al-Khadafi and President Omar Al-Beshir that there exists no issue of difference between Eritrea and Sudan, especially at a time when the Sudanese government and the SPLM are making preparations to set up a new government following the peace agreement reached on the basis of the Naivasha Agreement, which is an outcome of the efforts made by IGAD member states.

In this regard, President Isaias underlined that Eritrea had made due contribution in promoting a comprehensive political solution to the Sudanese problem. Hence, President Isaias pointed out to the two leaders that in view of the fact that the argument which Sudan has been putting forth has no ground at the moment, there obviously exists no difference between the two countries that warrants reconciliation. In this connection, Mr. Ali Seid noted that any meeting between Eritrea and Sudan must essentially focus on future relations of the two countries.

Minister Ali Seid Abdalla went on to explain that President Isaias commended the interest that Brother Muammar Al-Khadafi is demonstrating to promote sisterly relations of cooperation among the countries of the region. The Foreign Minister also pointed out that President Isaias had expressed to the Libyan and Sudanese leaders his hope that the new Sudanese government to be set up with the participation of the SPLM would make positive contribution in bringing about quick solution to the yet unresolved Sudanese problem on which the different political forces in the country are expected to hold discussion.

It is to be noted that Sudan has been claiming that there exists differences between Eritrea and Sudan due to Eritrea’s relations with different Sudanese political forces, especially with the parties involved in the conflict.