Ethiopia, Sudan agree to cooperate in security along border

Dec 1, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to cooperate in the keeping of peace and security along their common border for mutual development gains of the two countries.

The agreement signed on 28 November in the Ethiopian town of Gonder provides for the military commands of the two countries along the common border to cooperate in the areas of maintaining the peace and security of the areas, the Ministry of Defence told the official news agency ENA.

Western Command Post Commander in-Chief Brig-Gen Abreha Woldemariam on the occasion said the two countries enjoy historical relations and they should maintain the peace and security along their common border to enable the development of their resources for the mutual gains of their peoples.

The general is also quoted as saying that the armies of the two countries will cooperate to enable bilateral economic and social cooperation agreements to be implemented in an atmosphere of peace.

The agreement is believed to enhance cooperation of the two sides in the areas of peace and security affairs as well as the protection of natural resources and cultural relics, he said.

The signing of the agreement was attended by military attaches, diplomats, senior military officers and unit commanders.

(ENA)