Sudan demands Eritrean mediation with eastern Sudan rebels
April 17, 2006 (ASMARA) — Eritrean official announced here that Sudan has demanded Eritrea officially to sponsor peace talks with eastern Sudan rebel group.
The Head of Organizational Affairs at the Eritrean ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), Abdella Jabir told the press that Sudanese government requested Eritrea to host negotiations on resolving the East Sudan issue, as well as participate in the Abuja talks on resolving the Darfur issue.
Jabir said that erirea will host the talks between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the East Sudan Front on resolving the east Sudan issue.
According the official site of the Eritrean ministry of Information Shabait, both parties have agreed to hold a preliminary meeting on reaching agreement on technical issues so that Eritrea as an intermediary could listen to the views of the East Sudan Front and organize a meeting of both parties at the earliest.
Regarding Abuja peace talks on Darfur, the PFDJ official indicated that Eritrea is ready to send a delegation to hear the different points of view of the Sudanese parties over the still unresolved issue, promote a lasting peaceful political solution to the Darfur issue and evaluate Eritrea’s possible role thereof.
An Eritrean delegation headed by the chairman of the political commission at the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Yemani Ghebremeskel visited Sudan from 10 to 15 April. The Head of Organizational Affairs at the PFDJ Abdellah Jabir, and Ambassador Eissa Ahmed Eissa were among the delegation members.
The Eritrean delegation held talks with the First Vice President Salva Kiir. It also met with The Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Congress for political and organizational affairs Nafei Ali Nafei.
Eritrea and Sudan agreed to restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries. Ambassadors from both sides will be accredited soon, according to Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol.
Eritrea and Sudan withdrew their ambassadors and closed their common border in 2002 after Khartoum accused Asmara of supporting an offensive by Sudanese rebels on its territory and both sides traded steady streams of invective.
But following implementation of a January peace deal that ended Sudan’s 21-year north-south civil war, Asmara and Khartoum agreed to resolve their differences.
(ST)