Eritrea’s FM and President Bashir discuss Sudan’s flashpoints
September 6, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir received a message from the Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki about the Blue Nile conflict among rumors of a proposal to mediate a negotiated settlement.
Eritrean foreign minister Osman Saleh told reporters following the meeting he delivered a message from President Afewerki related to the Blue Nile conflict. He also said they discussed bilateral relations and joint economic projects.
The meeting was attended by Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti and the director of the National intelligence and security services Mohamed Atta.
Reliable sources stated that Eritrea proposed to broker talks between the Sudanese government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the disputed issues like Abyei and border demarcation, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts.
“Eritrea’s position is that the Sudanese are more knowledgeable and better able to resolve their problems, and we push for a Sudanese solution. Any role of the neighbouring countries should have a supporting and secondary character,” said Eritrean presidential adviser Yemane Ghebreab.
Ghebreab was speaking to the press about the relations between the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan following a separate meeting between the visiting delegation and presidential assistant Nafei Ali Nafei.
He also regretted the fighting in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan adding that war does not solve the issues of Sudan reaffirming Eritrea’s willingness to support the Sudanese efforts to end the disputes.
In Khartoum, the Sudanese government Tuesday renewed its demand to Juba to stop supporting the SPLM-N. Khartoum lodged last week a complaint to the UN Security Council accusing the South Sudan ruling party of supporting the rebels groups from Blue Nile, Darfur and Southern Kordofan.
Sudan’s president rejected a framework agreement brokered by the former South African president and head of AU panel on Sudan last June. Bashir said he wants talks between Sudanese without an external mediation. But SPLM-N rebels refuse direct talks without a third party.
(ST)