Maher: Egyptian-Sudanese relations distinguished
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 1/12/2002

Egyptian Foreign Minster Ahmad Maher said the Egyptian-Sudanese relations are distinguished and will be further developed.

In statements Maher said that Egypt's participation in the Inter-Governmental Authority on development (IGAD) summit emanates from the importance of any grouping near Egypt for national security reasons and to emphasize the distinguished ties binding Egypt and Sudan.

I was honoured to meet with Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, First Vice-President Ali Qthman Taha and Foreign Minister Moustafa Othman Ismail, said Maher.

"The summit offered a good chance for a meeting between Libyan Foreign Minister Abdul-Salam Al-Treiki, his Sudanese counterpart and myself to discuss the situation on the light of the Egyptian Libyan initiative," he said.

On the possibility of carrying out a regional peace project, which was tabled by Bashir during the IGAD meetings, Maher said there might be differences but peace is in everybody's interests.

"If all parties are aware of the importance of achieving a have reconciliation and settlement, objective they will be capable attaining then joint.

Maher said that his meetings with the IGAD leaders aimed at probing bilateral relations and means to bolster them as well as discussing the situation in the Horn of Africa region.

"The IGAD countries have suffered much : Somalia is suffering the woes of war and Sudan is having a war in the south and Ethiopia has an important role in this region," he added.

"Hence, it was important for me to meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Eritrean President Isaias Afworki and Somali President Abdiqassem Salad to agree together over joint action and settlement of the situation in the Horn of Africa," Maher said.

On whether Egypt has a peace plan for Somalia, the foreign minister said that there is no such thing but there are encouraging calls that the parties in Somalia should unify, referring to an Egyptian inclination that reconciliation would take place and that neighbouring countries would help materialize it.

"The Egyptian-Libyan and IGAD initiatives aim at maintaining Sudan's unity and that the Sudanese people would enjoy equality," he noted.

He pointed out that the message Egypt received from the Sudanese opposition National democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Mohammad Othman Al-Mirghani was very positive and expressed readiness to work within the Egyptian-Libyan initiative in order to preserve Sudan's territorial integrity.

Two consulates will be opened to make it easy for the Sudanese people to enter Egypt, said Maher.

He added Ibrahim Omar, the Secretary-General of the ruling party in Sudan, will visit Egypt at the invitation of Youssef Wali, Secretary-General of the National Democratic Party (NDP), to further political and partisan relations between the two countries.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt keen on maintaining Sudanese unity   (1/10/2002)
  IGAD Summit is important   (1/10/2002)
  Egypt's moves aim at realizing peace in Sudan   (1/1/2002)

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