Ethiopia’s PM reiterates commitment to work for peace in Sudan
December 16, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Following a meeting with Sudanese defence minister on Friday, Ethiopian prime minister renewed his commitment to work for a quick settlement to the pending issues in the 2005 peace deal.
After a meeting with the Defence Minister Abdel-Rahim Hussein, Meles Zenawi said in a statement released on Friday that “Ethiopia will continue its support to find peaceful solution for Sudan and South Sudan governments’ dispute”.
He further vowed to develop bilateral ties between the two countries.
The visiting Sudanese minister for his part, told the Ethiopian News Agency that he had “constructive discussion” with Zenawi on ways to further enhance the relation of Ethiopia and Sudan in the areas of peace, trade, investment as well as people to people relations.
Ethiopia showed extreme precaution to not allow Sudanese rebels from the bordering Blue Nile state to not use its territory in their war against Khartoum.
Zenawi even sought to play a role in the resolution of the conflict of the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –North headed by the Blue Nile governor Malik Agar. The latter accompanied Zenawi last August to Khartoum where he held direct talks with President Omer al-Bashir.
Reliable sources in the Sudanese capital said Zenawi, in a message he convoyed to Bashir, expressed his readiness to resume his efforts to end the conflict with the SPLM-N and exhorted the Sudanese president to open talks with the rebels.
Last July Bashir rejected a framework deal mediated by the former South African President Thabo Mbeki and stressed that SPLM-N rebels should disarm and negotiate inside Sudan on a protocol relative to the two regions.
The SPLM-N rebels who formed an alliance with Darfur rebel groups last November say they want now a comprehensive process to address the root-causes of Sudan’s problem.
(ST)