Egypt says concerned by Sudan – Chad deterioration
Dec 23, 2006 (CAIRO) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul Gheit Saturday voiced Egypt’s concern over the latest developments in the Chadian-Sudanese crisis, pointing out that the inconvenient regional dimensions should be taken into consideration.
Aboul Gheit said he was confident Chad would deal wisely with the status quo in order to safeguard good neighborly relations with Sudan. He asserted that both nations should resume security cooperation in order to stop violations at their joint borders.
He welcomed the positive developments in dealing with the crisis by the international community, pointing out that reaching an agreement on the future of the peacekeeping forces is imminent, MENA reported.
Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-Mithat arrived to Cairo on Friday conveyed to the President Hosni Mubarak a message from Chadian President Idriss Deby on conditions in Chad, Sudan’s western region of Darfur and Chadian-Sudanese relations.
The Sudanese presidential advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail who met Saturday with the Egyptian Foreign Minister told the press that he was briefed on the outcome of talks between Aboul-Gheit and Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-Mi.
The Sudanese official said that Sudan was keen on having distinguished ties with Chad, urging Ndjamena to stop interference in Darfur affairs.
Chadian troops entered Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region and fought Chadian rebels on Friday 15 December. Chad said it had sent troops into Sudan to pursue rebels who fled fighting with the military earlier in the week in eastern Chad.
(ST)