Egyptian, Sudanese presidents to hold summit

CAIRO, Jan 17, 2004 (Xinhua) — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will hold a summit with his Sudanese counterpart Omar el-Bashir on Sunday, the official MENA news agency reported Saturday.

During the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, the Sudanese peace process and the volatile Middle East situation.

“The summit is of vital importance, as it paves the way for a new era of economic integration and joint programs,” Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Abdel Halim told MENA in an interview on Saturday.

“The two countries are aware of the fact that they share the same national security,” he said, while hailing Egypt’s efforts to help maintain Sudan’s unity.

Bashir’s visit to Egypt comes at a time when a hope for reaching a comprehensive peace deal looms following the signing of an agreement on wealth sharing between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on Jan. 7.

The Sudanese government and the SPLA scored a breakthrough in July, 2002, when they agreed on a referendum on southern independence after a six-year transition, but disputes on oil and power sharing as well as settling disputed territories have hindered further progress.