Eritrea distances it self from eastern Sudan talks, seems angry

Feb 9, 2006 (ASMARA) — While the Eastern Sudan rebels demand the Eritrean participation in the Libyan sponsored peace talks as a sine qua none condition, Eritrea distanced it self from this talks saying it does not asked to attend these talks.

A press statement issued by the ministry of Foreign affairs said “the government of Eritrea did not ask at all to join this meaningless and futile dialogue gimmick; neither will it ask for participation in the future”.
This Eritrean move came after the refusal of the Eritrean involvement is Eastern Sudan peace talks.

Kamal Obeid, the head of the government delegation for the talks said that the Sudan has “clearly and directly told the Libyan mediators that it does not wish to see an Eritrean participation in the talks”.

He pointed out that despite the recent warming up of relations between the two states; relations between them have not reached the level to allow an Eritrean mediation in Sudan’s internal issues.

Obeid disclosed that contacts between the government and the Eastern Front continue in order to bring an end to this problem.

This development indicates deterioration in the relations between the two countries after a short period of improvement in the bilateral ties.

In October 2005, Eritrea and Sudan announced an end to “more than 10 years of estrangement,” and this led to a series of high-level exchanges of visits by senior officials.

But, it seems that the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is not very enthusiast for normalization with Eritrea, contrary to the other partner in the government of national unity, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

(ST)