Sanaa cooperation forum vows to combat terrorism

KHARTOUM, Dec 27, 2004 (Xinhua) — Leaders of Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen vowed here on Monday that the three countries would cooperate with the international community to combat terrorism.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seen here addressing a summit of the so-called Sanaa Group. (AFP).

The remark came in a joint communique issued at the end of the two-day summit of the Sanaa cooperation forum which gathers Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia.

The summit was attended by Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi while the Somali interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa were present as observers.

In the final communique, leaders of the three countries strongly condemned terrorism and expressed desire for working together so as to achieve peace, security and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa and the southern Red Sea sub-region.

Sudanese President Bashir also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to concluding a final peace agreement with Darfur rebels in an effort to restore security and protect civilians in the war- torn western region.

He vowed to give access to humanitarian relief to Darfur in cooperation with the African Union (AU), the United Nations and the non-governmental humanitarian organizations.

The leaders also called upon the international community to contribute to the reconstruction and development of the war- affected regions in Sudan.

Yemeni President Saleh said at the summit that dialogue should be the basis of reconciliation between countries in the Horn of Africa and the southern Red Sea sub-region. Bashir and Zenawi praised this initiative and welcomed the Yemeni efforts in this regard.

The three leaders also expressed their satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the Somali peace process, calling on the international community to fund the interim government so as to help establish its authority in Somalia as soon as possible.

At the end of the summit, the convening parties also signed memoranda of understanding on fighting against illegal trade, establishing a joint business council and enhancing cooperation in political, economic and diplomatic fields.