Sudan, Ethiopia agree to enhance security and joint projects

March 15, 2009 (Al-DAMAZIN) – Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to enhance bilateral ties through joint security cooperation and development of agriculture projects and border trade.

The 11th conference of Sudan–Ethiopia border development concluded its work today and adopted a series of decisions to boost the bilateral relations between the frontier regions and districts in the areas of security, trade, agriculture and health.

Local disputes between Sudanese and Ethiopian farmers on the ownership and exploitation of the land triggered the two countries to create this mechanism in order settle locally such kind of dispute and to combat banditry throughout the border areas.

With regard to the security issue, the two sides agreed to encourage the competent authorities to speed up legal procedures and the exchange of prisoners and captives in accordance with the signed agreements. They also agreed to strengthen the existing mechanism and to create a timetable for upcoming security meetings which should be on the provincial level between the two sides every three months and every two months at the district level.

The two sides also adopted a number of recommendations and guidelines to promote social and economic ties among the societies of those areas in order to achieve food security through joint agricultural projects.

Also both sides agreed to coordinate in the fight against polio and AIDS.

The delegations from the two sides also recommended to increase the amount of the authorized capital per buisnessman in the border trade to 10,000 Ethiopian Biir (1100 USD) weekly, and to add a number of commodities to the list of Sudanese products permitted in the border trade. Also they proposed to amend the size of the border trade area from 90 to 140 km.

Delegations from five Sudanese states and four Ethiopian regions participated in the three day meeting in Al-Damazin, the capital of the Blue Nile state. From Sudan the states include: Gadaref, Sinnar, Blue Nile, Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria. While the Ethiopian regions are: Gambella, Beneshangul, Amhara and Tigray.

(ST)