Eritrea denies seeking Libyan mediation with Sudan: FM

ASMARA, Nov 10, 2004 (ERINA) — The Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed today that the news disseminated recently by various Sudanese media outlets alleging that “Eritrea has asked the Libyan Jamahiriya to act as mediator for reconciliation with the Sudan” is totally baseless and categorically untrue.

The Eritrean Foreign Ministry, moreover, asserted that Eritrea did not ask and has no reason to ask for Libyan intermediary for rapprochement with the Sudan and that it will not ask any other quarters for mediation with the Sudan in the future.

[Sudanese Foreign minister Mustafa Osman Ismail has affirmed his government readiness to cooperate with any effort of Libya for mediation between Sudan and Eritrea, the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported on Sudany Nov 6, 2004.

The Sudanese official said that Sudan has certain security blames to Asmara, indicating that there would be no problem in normalizing the relations between Khartoum and Asmara if these blames were resolved.]