Eritrea, Sudan ruling parties agree to coordinate actions
Aug 27, 2006 (ASMARA) — Eritrea ruling People Front for Democracy and Justice and Sudan’s National Congress Party agreed to cooperate in various domains, the state-run Shabait website reported today.
A joint statement issued Sunday in Asmara announced that the two ruling parties have reached agreements on regional and international issues, bilateral relations and future meetings of the joint committee.
At a meeting held between President Isaias Afwerki and the Sudanese delegation led by the vice chairperson of the National Congress Party’s political and organizational affairs, Nafei Ali Nafei, the Eritrean president assured the visiting delegation of the PFDJ’s support to the National Congress party and the Sudanese peace process. Furthermore, he underlined Eritrea’s firm rejection of any foreign intervention in the Sudanese issue.
The cooperation agreements concluded today at the Hotel Intercontinental Asmara had been signed by the Head of the PFDJ’s political affairs, Yemane Ghebreab and the vice chairman of the National Congress Party’s political and organizational affairs, Nafei Ali Nafei and the National Congress Party’s secretary of foreign relations, Kemal Mohammed Obied.
The high-level National Congress party delegation left for the Sudan at midday today in conclusion of its visit to Eritrea.
“After reaching a consensus that international forces are working towards the disruption of security and stability in the region and the instigation of discord among nations, the two parties agreed on the need to work closely and promote strategic coordination to foil those external policies”, the Shabait stated.
Eritrea charges the international community of not putting the right pressure on Ethiopia to implement Algiers Agreement with Ethiopia to end a border war between the two neighbouring countries. While Sudan blames the international communities for “unjustified” pressures over Darfur crisis.
As regards regional issues, the parties agreed that regional organizations should clutch on to a coordinated and firm stand that is focused on promoting regional peace and stability and frustrating all evil schemes that are being imposed by international powers.
They also concurred that any foreign intervention in the Sudanese and Somali issues bears dangerous consequences.
Eritrea, which had been isolated regionally by the Ethiopian government, seems aiming to consolidate its historical ties with the Sudan to encircle Addis Ababa. Sudan and Eritrea have the same stance regarding the Somali crisis, while Ethiopia tries to play the role of the regional ally of the US Administration.
(ST)