Chad’s Deby to visit Sudan on Monday

February 3, 2010 (NDJAMENA) — Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno announced Wednesday he will fly to Khartoum next Monday for talks on normalization process with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Al-Beshir.

“I am going to Khartoum on 8th of February to have talks with President al-Beshir,” Deby told a visiting delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie on Wednesday.

“At the time I am talking to you, he has not yet been informed, so I’m giving you this scoop. He will be informed at the end of this meeting,” he further said.

The visit comes after direct talks between the two countries to normalize relations and settle the five year difference over support to rebel groups in both countries.

The two countries are expected to deploy patrols soon along the border to prevent rebels from crossing on both sides.

Since last October, President Al-Bashir sent his adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Attabanti to inform President Deby of Sudan’s readiness to improve ties and end the tensions between the two countries.

However, Chadian President seemed for some time reluctant and asked Sudan to take concrete steps to prove its willingness.

“I am a man of dialogue and openness. War has never settled things and I know what I’m talking about, dear parliamentarians. Chad wants to live in perfect harmony with all its neighbours,” Deby said.

Bashir and Deby were close allies in the past. It was reported that when security reports mentioned flow of arms from Chad to the rebels in Darfur, he had refused such reports. The former rebel Deby took power in a military coup in 1990, with Sudan’s backing.

(ST)