Eritrea, Sudan normalize ties, raise diplomatic representation

Dec 7, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and Eritrea have agreed to raise the level of diplomatic representation between the two countries to ambassadorial level with immediate effect and to arrange a summit meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

A joint communiqué issued today at the end of the meetings of the joint committee between the two counties said the summit could be held in Asmara or Khartoum.

The two sides have agreed to continue contacts at both official and popular levels and to encourage national aviation airlines to fly directly between Khartoum and Asmara.

The two countries also agreed to hold the coming meetings of the joint committee in Khartoum.

The Sudanese delegation was headed by the Foreign Minister Lam Akol, while the Eritrean side by head of the Organizational Affairs in the ruling Eritrean People’s Front for Democracy and Justice Abdellah Mahmoud Jabir.

The statement pointed out that the two sides reviewed arrangements for preparing the climate for joint work and discussed the mechanisms that would lead to the implementation of what was agreed upon.

Lam Akol has meanwhile said relations between the two countries have now returned to normalcy.

He said in a statement to the state-run SUNA that the talks between the two sides were conducted in a cordial atmosphere and that they agreed on confidence building measures, which have been reflected in the final communiqué.

(ST)