Khartoum ready to normalize relations with Eritrea if it stopped troubling Sudan

KHARTOUM, May 4, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman smail in a briefing before parliament in Khartoum, said Khartoum was ready to normalize ties with Asmara, as long as the latter stopped “troubling” and “stabbing” Sudan.

The National Assembly today heard a briefing from the foreign minister about the achievement of his ministry during the 2003 period.

The minister indicated relations with Eritrea are not linked to any other state, as is being said by some. We are ready – even tomorrow – to normalize our relations with Eritrea if it stopped troubling Sudan.

Osman further added, “what we expect from Eritrea now is to extend a white hand that does not seek to hit or stab Sudan”.

He also expressed the readiness of Sudanese government to deal with Eritrea the same way we deal with Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya.

The Eritrean people are a brotherly people and we participated in their struggle and we must be concerned about them. It is not our responsibility, however, to change the regime in Eritrea. That is the responsibility of the Eritrean people.

Sudanese government accuses Eritrea of encouraging military action against it and demands to crack down on the Sudanese armed opposition from Eritrea.

The border between the two has been closed since October 2002, when Sudan accused Eritrea of backing rebels on its territory. Eritrea later accused Sudan of backing Islamic insurgents in western Eritrea.