Yemeni, Sudanese, Ethiopian meeting on terrorism; Bashir accuses Garang of obstructing peace
Yemen-Sudan, Politics, 11/3/2003

The foreign ministers of Yemen, Sudan and Ethiopia started in Sanaa on Saturday a meeting that will last for two days in preparation to convene the summit which will be held by the presidents of the three countries in Addis Ababa in December in order to enhance the work of the regional group to fight terrorism in the African horn, formed by the three countries in January this year.

Yemen's foreign minister Abu baker al-Qurabi said he will discuss with his colleague, the Sudanese Mustafa Othman Ismael and the Ethiopian peer "necessary preparations for the meeting of the presidents of the three countries in Addis Ababa in December in order to enhance this regional group." The three countries started close coordination following the summit which included in October 2002 in Sanaa the President of Yemeni, and Sudan and the Ethiopian prime minister.

On the other hand, the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir accused the leader of the southern rebels (Sudan People Liberation Army) John Garang of deception concerning certain issues which he said obstruct the finalization of a peace agreement.

Al-Bashir said in an interview with the Egyptian state- owned daily al-Ahram that "Garang returned back to matters which were settled in the Mashakos agreement ( in July 2002), like talking about the foundation of a private central bank in the south and an independent currency and a defense ministry, an issue which supports separation, and we have refused and do refuse that."

He added that "negotiations have achieved large strides and that despite current problems, we expect to sign the peace agreement." Al-Bashir explained that there are three issues that are still pending before signing a comprehensive peace agreement which are the sharing of resources and authority, and the situation of three areas under dispute in the country.

He said that Garang says that people of these areas stood with him during previous fighting periods, and therefore, he links the fate of these areas to him. But this is not correct. These areas are part of northern Sudan, they have no links to Sudan and Arab tribes live in it."

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