Sudan’s Bashir visits Eritrea for talks
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
February 18, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – The President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Al-Beshir conducted a one-day official visit to Eritrea on Thursday during which he held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki on the progress of bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries
Upon arrival at Asmara International Airport, the Sudanese president was welcomed by his Eritrean counterpart.
According to Eritrea’s state Television, ERiTV, in a meeting the two leaders held at the State Palace, both leaders reaffirmed they intend o further scale-up the existing multi-lateral ties based on the interests of the two nations.
The two leaders also discussed on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Al-Bashir said he reviewed with the Eritrean President, Assais Afwerki, the impacts of events in Egypt, where protests forced long-serving President Hosni Mubarak resign. Egypt’s protests mirrored previous protests in Tunisia, which also forced the president to resign. This week has seen protest in Yemen, Libya and Bahrain.
Sudan has seen small, sporadic protests since January 30, mainly in Khartoum, but they have been quickly dispersed by security forces.
In a press briefing, the two leaders said their latest talks were a continuation of the regular consultations and exchanging of views between the two countries and leaders.
The Eritrean president was also briefed by Al-Bashir on the South Sudan’s vote for independence in a referendum held in January. The region is due to become independent in July. South Sudan will be Africa’s youngest nation, replacing Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.
Sudan’s president indicated that the two leaders reached understanding on the need for joint work programs.
President Isaias, on his part, underlined that, although there exists mutual political will on both sides to reinforce bilateral cooperation in line with the prevailing Eritrea-Sudanese strategic ties, there was still a long way to go.
“The work accomplished over the past five years is not that satisfactory. Such effort should be stepped up in the future” he added.
The Eritrean president has in the past declared the stand of the government and people of his country against the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Al-Bashir for the conduct of the counter insurgency against rebels in Sudan’s Darfur region. Afewerki described the allegations of the ICC as a “new hostile campaign from the powers of aggression and new colonialism”.
Eritrea formerly hosted Darfur rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement. However, Asmara through rebels out of the country, paving the way for improved ties with Khartoum.
(ST)