Sudan’s Blue Nile state delegation pays visit to Ethiopia

July 25, 2009 (ASSOSA) – A delegation from Sudan’s Blue Nile state has paid a visit today to the Ethiopia’s bordering region of Benishangul Gumuz for talks on joint cooperation.

Regional officials of both sides held discussion on ways of strengthening the implementation of the various agreements the signed in the past.

Recently regional officials from the two neighboring regions had met in Kumruk Town of the Benishangul state. During their discussion, chief of Benishangul State; Ahmed Nassir said the two sides have long standing relations.

He further said that the administration and the people are keen to further strengthen peace and development agreement with the neighboring region.

The chief said the state has attached prime attention to avert activities of anti-peace elements that try to impede overall development endeavors of the state.

Blue Nile region representative Salah Musa Kangi pledged to scale up relations with the Benishangul Gumuz state.

The two sides have agreed to stop illegal trade and activities and prevent ant- peace elements.

The Benishangul Gumuz region lies along the 1000 kilometer long common border of Ethiopia and south Sudan.

Officials from Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz, SNNP and Gambela region, this week met in Juba with regional officials of the semi-autonomous southern Sudan for cooperation consultation.

During their annual joint regional development cooperation consultation meeting both sides, on Thursday signed an agreement that enable them to jointly speed up the completion of ongoing development projects in their respective adjacent states and regions

Among others, signed agreements include social affairs, economic, infrastructure, capacity building and security issues.

(ST)