Sudanese president says Eritrea behind destabilization in his country

By Al-Sahafah daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Dec 30, 2003 — The president of the republic, Staff Lt-Gen Umar al-Bashir, is expecting an agreement on power and wealth-sharing, as well as the three disputed regions, to be signed next week with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM] in Naivasha [central Kenya].

He accused Eritrea of being an element of destabilization in the region and exerting extensive efforts to destabilize the situation in Sudan.

In a news conference at the Sanaa Grouping’s leaders conference, at the Republican Palace in Addis Ababa yesterday, Al-Bashir said that a number of important issues had been overcome in the previous rounds of talks such as the relationship between state and religion, and the right to self determination for southerners after the transitional period, as well as security and military arrangements.

Al-Bashir said progress was being made in the just distribution of wealth but disputes remain in a number of issues and hoped an agreement would be reached on the three disputed areas, in accordance with the progress made in the current round of talks.

Responding to Al-Sahafa newspaper, Al-Bashir said Eritrea was an element of destabilization in the region and was applying extensive efforts to destabilize Sudan.

He said the presence of rebel elements in Eritrea, and attacks through the eastern borders which are still continuing, indicate that after the Darfur problems arose, Eritrea backed armed rebel gangs in Darfur by providing them with weapons and ammunition.

He said Eritrea was backing some of the rebels in Darfur, where some were being trained and others were receiving treatment.

The president said he hoped Eritrea would seriously be an active member in the region, and would benefit, as well as make others benefit, in the field of stability, security and mutual interests. [Passage omitted: Remarks by Yemeni leader at the same summit]

BBC Monitoring Middle East