Eritrean president concludes state visit to Sudan
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
June 13, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA/KHARTOUM) – Eritrean President, Isaias Afewerki, has returned to his country on Saturday after concluding a three-day official visit in neighbouring Sudan.
In the course of the meeting, the Eritrean President held wide-ranging discussions with his Sudanese counterpart President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
The Eritrean news outlets reported that the two leaders exchanged views on ways of further bolstering the existing political and Socio-economic ties, cooperation and partnership of the two countries.
Moreover, both sides discussed on new areas of partnership, regional and international issues of common interest as well as on ways of solidify security in the region.
According to the Eritrean ministry of information website (Shabait), President Isaias also held discussions with the speaker of the Sudanese National Assembly, Ibrahim Ahmed Omar and with the first vice-president, General, Bekri Hassan Saleh, on a number of issues.
The latest meeting according to Eritrean government is part of the continuous consultations between the two neighbours on issues of common interest.
The Eritrean government described the latest meeting “as a reflection of their good neighbourly ties, the Heads of State of Eritrea and the Republic of Sudan maintain regular consultations and exchange of views on issues of mutual interest to both countries.”
President Isaias Afwerki left for Khartoum on Thursday in a working visit to the Republic of Sudan.
Up on arrival at Khartoum International Airport, President Isaias was warmly welcomed by President Al-Bashir along with a Guard of Honor.
In a statement, Minister of State for Sudanese foreign ministry Obaidullah Mohamed Obaidullah said Afwerki’s visit to Sudan was mainly to congratulate al-Bashir in person on his re-election for a new term as president.
Afwerki said the victory of al-Bashir in the recently held elections was an indication that the president has continued to gain confidence by the Sudanese people.
Visit of the Eritrean leader comes roughly ten days after Afwerki missed al-Bashir’s swearing-in ceremony attended by many African leaders including the Ethiopian prime minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn.
The president Bashir, who sought several time to reconcile the two countries, reportedly had the intention to take this opportunity and organize a meeting between the two leaders.
(ST)