Sudan minimizes accusations against Eritrea on Darfur
Oct 12, 2006 (ASMARA) — A Sudanese senior official said minimized the recent accusation against eritrea made by president al-Bashir of supporting Darfur rebels saying relations between Sudan and Eritrea are deep rooted.
Mustafa Osman Ismail, Sudanese presidential advisor and chairman of the Sudanese government delegation to the peace talks on East Sudan, said that as relations between Eritrea and Sudan is deep rooted, the hiccups encountered on previous occasions represents only a temporary phenomenon.
He further said that relations between the two countries would not be affected by such difference.
The Sudanese official, in an interview with Eri-TV today and published by the official Shabait, said that Sudan is keen to develop economic and political partnership with Eritrea on top of the long-standing bilateral relations.
Ismail pointed out that after the conclusion of the peace dialogue on East Sudan, the Sudanese delegation would meet Eritrean government officials on further strengthening bilateral relations and conduct studies on cooperation projects.
He added that President Omar al-Bashir would hold talks with President Isayas Afewerki on enhancing Eritrean-Sudanese relations, besides attending the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the East Sudan Front on October 14, 2006.
The Sudanese top negotiator commended Eritrea’s highly qualified mediation role free from threats and manipulation. “The dialogue was honest and balanced,” he stated.
He further pointed out that the factors that contributed to the success of the peace dialogue was the Eritrean mediator’s avoidance of those international element posing as partners, as well as seeing to it that the parties to the dialogue focus on the set agenda items rather than engage in media squabbles.
The Sudanese official elaborated that the guarantee of the agreement reached rests on the two parties, the Sudanese people and the Eritrean mediator.
(ST)