Two Ethiopian and Sudanese regions sign cooperation agreements

May 12, 2009 (GADARIF) – Eastern Sudan’s state of Gadarif and Ethiopian region of Tigray agreed to boost regional cooperation between the two on areas of trade culture, controlling communicable human and animal dieses and environmental protection.

This meeting between the two regions comes in implementation of the resolutions of the 11th conference of Sudan–Ethiopia border development held last March in Al-Damazin.

The president of Tigray region Tsegay Berhe and the governor of Gadarif Al-Daw Osman Hassan Al-Faki signed a memorandum of understanding to develop bilateral relations at the end of the meeting on Tuesday.

Also the mayors of Gadarif City and Mekelle signed a town twining agreement to foster human and cultural links between the two regional capitals.

Gadarif and Tigray top officials reaffirmed their commitment to implement the signed agreements in order to enhance joint cooperation and to work together to serve the interests of the two brotherly people.

They also asserted that these talks show the high level of bilateral relations reached by the two sides. They said banditry and criminal activities would not affect the strong ties.

Few years ago there were rampant conflicts raised over grazing lands, robbery and illegal arms smuggling. But this has sharply declined after both regions took joint efforts and security measures to curb these crimes.

Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi co-chaired last April Ethiopia-Sudan Second High-Level Joint Commission Meeting where the two countries signed a series of accords on joint economic and cultural cooperation.

(ST)