Sudan defence minister meets Ethiopian prime minister

August 15, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudanese defence minister, Abdel-Rahim Hussein met on Thursday with the Etiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues.

According to the official SUNA, the talks focused on bilateral cooperation in security issue. The talks dealt with the development of border trade and ways to revitalize the security military and economic bilateral cooperation.

Abdel Rahim told reporter in Khartoum that the meeting covered several important issues, and briefed Zenawi on the latest developments on the Sudanese arena, especially the peace process in Darfur region in addition to the activities carried out by the team supervisor of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.

He also discussed the indictment of the Sudanese president by the International criminal Court prosecutor who charged Omer al-Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity and was crimes.

Ethiopia has pledged to participate with the biggest military contingent, 5000 troops, in the peacekeeping operation in Darfur. The advance batch is expected over the weekend in El-Fasher.

(ST)