First visit in 14 years; Mubarak: dividing Sudan is harmful to region
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 5/1/2003

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in Khartoum yesterday stressed that "the two countries cannot be separated nor alienated from each other."

Mubarak also stressed that "dividing Sudan would be harmful for any part of the region." Mubarak who yesterday held a surprising visit to Khartoum which was the first since 14 years warned the US against any attempt to make "a false ethnic or religious balance in Iraq," calling for a "pivotal" role for the UN and the Arab states. He also called for "starting immediately the process of settling the Palestinian issue by declaring the Road Map." The Egyptian minister of information Safwat Al-Sherif said the two presidents discussed the Iraqi issue and stability in Sudan and its territorial safety.

Al-Sherif added that the two Presidents also discussed the process of economic integration between the two states. He added the two presidents agreed that the "two countries's interests are identical and solid to the extent that they remain integrated and inseparable." He explained that the two presidents discussed lessons derived from what happened in Iraq, the march of peace in Sudan.

Al-Sherif quoted Mubarak as saying to al-Bashir in their talks that "Sudan should enjoy stability and peace to prevail" he stressed that "the division of Sudan is harmfull for any part of the region." The Sudanese government and the rebels of southern of Sudan are holding peace talks in Kenya that will be resumed tomorrow ( Friday).

Mubarak and Bashir held what was described by the Sudanese TV as "historical" talks on the peace process in Sudan, the situation in Iraq and the Arab- Israeli conflict.

The Egyptian Middle East News agency said that Mubarak returned back to Cairo yesterday evening. Mubarak arrived in Khartoum amid tightened security measures in a short undeclared visit, where he was welcomed by Bashir.

This was Mubarak's first visit to Sudan since 14 years after he had visited it during the "Salvation ( Inqaz)" government in 1989. However, relations between the two states deteriorated to its worst in 1995 following a failed assassination attempt against the Egyptian president in Addis Ababa during his participation at the African Summit conference.

Cairo accused Khartoum of helping a group of Egyptians in carrying out the attack and providing them haven. Relations between the two states improved after Bashir alienated his opponent Hassan al-Turabi from government and put him under home arrest by the beginning of 1999 and the two states resumed diplomatic relations a year later.

Yesterday, Mubarak and Bashir asserted the need to activate integration institutions between Egypt and Sudan as a nucleus and model of the Arab common market, Egyptian Information Minister Safwat Al-Sherif said.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart Al-Zahawi Ibrahim Malek following official talks between the two leaders, Sherif said Mubarak and Bashir agreed on the importance of establishing a mini secretariat to act as a follow-up unit in charge of carrying out the activities of the ministerial committee.

They agreed on the need to establish a permanent committee between the People's Assembly in Egypt and the National Assembly in Sudan to be a substitute for a joint parliament, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Cairo hosts a conference includes 70 Egyptian, Sudanese people's organizations   (4/26/2003)
  Garang's Cairo visit positive step-Sudanese official   (4/9/2003)
  Egyptian relations with Sudan and Uganda   (1/9/2003)

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