Sudan, Eritrea to develop joint border with Qatari support

March 6, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — At a tripartite summit held in the Qatari capital, Doha, Sudan, Qatar and Eritrea have agreed to set up development projects that will be sponsored by the State of Qatar along the Sudan-Eritrea border. Bilateral relations were also discussed at the summit.

The three-way summit brought together the President Omar al-Bashir, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Hamad Bin-Khalifah Al Thani and the Eritrean President, Isayas Afewerki, and was hosted by the Emirate Chamber in Doha and follows an invitation from the emir of the State of Qatar.

The meeting discussed – according to the final communiqué – issues of mutual interest to the three countries.

The three leaders agreed to develop the areas along the Sudan-Eritrea border economically and provide services through development projects sponsored by the State of Qatar.

The leaders also focused on the Horn of Africa during the talks. They called for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Somalia without foreign interference so that stability and unity could be strengthened.

They also called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid to Somalia to contain the spread of diseases and epidemics.

Presidents Al-Bashir and Afewerki expressed their thanks and appreciation for the efforts made by Sheikh Hamad to strengthen Sudanese-Eritrean relations.

(ST)