Sudanese Foreign Minister meets Eritrean President

Dec 6, 2005 (ASMARA) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Lam Akol arrived in Asmara Tuesday on a two-day official visit o Eritrea for talks with officials on bilateral relations and ways of improving them.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki held extensive discussions with the visiting Sudanese Foreign Minister, Lam Akol, focusing on enhancing relations between the two countries. (Shabait.com) .

He was received at the airport by Abdullah Jabir, responsible for the Organizational Affairs in the Eritrean People’s Front for Democracy and Justice and Mohamed Omar, Acting Foreign Minister, as well as members of the Sudanese embassy in Asmara.

Lam Akol pointed out that the visit comes within the context of the efforts exerted for the return of relations between the two countries to normalcy and that it was a continuation of the dialogue initiated during the visit of the Eritrean delegation to Khartoum recently.

He said the visit was an important shift in the ties between the two countries and that by the end of the visit he hopes to see relations taking long strides towards returning to normalcy.

The Eritrean Acting Foreign Minister has meanwhile pointed out in a statement to the Sudan News Agency at Asmara Airport that the talks and meetings held in Khartoum and in Asmara seek to return the relations between the two countries to normal.

He explained that positive steps have been taken so far in this path. He added misunderstanding has now been cleared in the ties between the two countries.

Since the beginning of this month, the Eritrean president received the first Vice president Salav Kiir, Presidential Advisor Salah Attabani, the leader of the National democratic Alliance Mohamed Osman al-Merghani, and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol.

(ST)