Khartoum welcomes Eritrea’s desire to improve relations with sudan
KHARTOUM, Sep 1, 2004 (SUNA) — The Minister of Federal Government and Chairman of the government’s delegation for talks with the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, welcomed the desire of the Eritrean regime to normalize its relations with Sudan, saying that there are a number of indicators from the NDA that Eritrea wants the NDA to reach an agreement with the government toward paving the way for improving the Sudanese – Eritrean relations.
At a press conference he held at the premises of the Ministry of Information and Communication Wednesday, in the presence of the Minister of Information and Communication Al-Zahawi Ibrahim Malik and members of the delegation, Dr. Nafie said that this Eritrean trend is welcomed in a view that the foreign policy of the Salvation Government is to maintain good neighborliness.
Dr. Nafie referred to the valid cease-fire agreement in Eastern Sudan in compliance with the peace protocols signed in Naivasha, Kenya, as well as the framework agreement between the First Vice President and the Chairman of the NDA.
The minister said that leaders of the Beja Congress, a member of the NDA, have emphasized their keenness to protect the unity of Sudan, as well as their rejection to any foreign intervention in the Sudanese affairs, adding that the Beja Congress leaders said that they are ready to engage in talks with the government.
He also hailed the role being played by the Egyptian government in facilitating the meeting between the government and the NDA, recording a voice of thanks to the sisterly Egypt on behalf of the Sudanese people for its efforts to marinating the integrity of the Sudanese soil, denying that Egypt interfered in the negotiations.
Dr. Nafire reviewed the agenda of the talks between the two parties, saying that the agenda included 13 items, including unity of the country, constitutional issues, structures of the government, balanced development, etc, saying that the two sides are due to discuss the issues in the agenda by the end of current August through four committees.