Sudanese govt welcomes talks with Eritrea : report

KHARTOUM, Oct 8, 2004 (Alwan) — The Sudanese government has welcomed the efforts of the chairman of the opposition National Democratic Alliance, Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, to normalize its relations with the Eritrean government.

The minister of agriculture and political secretary at the ruling Congress Party, Majdhub al-Khalifah, said the government would welcome talks with the Eritrean government.

In an exclusive statement to SMC Sudanese Media Centre, Al-Khalifah insisted, however, that President Isayas Afewerki must show seriousness that he wants talks with the government.

If Eritrea is willing, he added, to talk, we are ready as long as the talks are not a tactical exercise by the Eritrean government.

Al-Khalifah said the Eritrean government is responsible for the deterioration of the relations between the two countries; it has also not abided by its agreements with Sudan, he concluded.

(Material from the BBC Monitoring Service)