Eritrea president: we will not join the Arab league, no tensions with Yemen
Qatar-Yemen, Politics, 5/31/2002

President of Eritrea Asyas Afourki commended the positive results and the talks he held in Qatar with its ruler Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani.

He stressed that this visit reflected the deep historical level between the two friendly countries, noting that bilateral cooperation between Doha and Asmara will witness a strong impetus in light of the results of his visit, especially at the economic, investment and trade levels and in regard to Qatar's participation in the infrastructure and services in Eritrea.

Afourki, who was talking in a press conference in Doha on Wednesday before he left Doha, added that he reviewed during his talks with the ruler of Qatar general conditions in Eritrea especially in light of the decision taken by the recent arbitration committee concerning Eritrea's border dispute with Ethiopia. Replying to one question he denied the existence of any Eritrean reservations on that. President Afourki strongly denounced news which talked about tension in the relations between Eritrea and Yemen and regretted in this regard reports which talked about reciprocated military build up on the borders of the two countries. He categorically denied differences with Sanaa regarding fishing issues. Afourki also categorically rejected joining the Arab league. He justified that by saying that conditions are inappropriate for a step as such and he severely criticized the role and the performance of the Arab league. He explained that the Arab League lacks efficiency.

He added that there is no regional organization that deserves Eritrea to join it, hoping that the AL secretary general Amr Moussa will succeed in revitalizing the AL and building a genuine regional organization.

Previous Stories:
  Yemen will not attend Doha economic conference if Israel takes part   (7/20/2001)
  Ruler of Qatar confers with Yemeni vice - President   (5/14/2001)
  Emir of Qatar to visit Yemen very soon   (7/14/2000)

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