A new chapter to be opened between Sudan, Eritrea
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and his Eritrea's counterpart Asyasi Afourki have underlined the importance of opening a new page in bilateral relations in which they two countries can eliminate all tensions that characterized their relations in the previous phase.
In a speech he delivered at the inaugural session held between them on Wednesday evening, al- Bashir said that Sudan is looking forward to the future when Sudanese- Eritrea relations will be boosted in all fields, highlighting the historical relations linking the two countries.
For his part, President Afourki considered that history and geography relations are the ones which make the ground for bilateral relations.
He added that his current visit to Sudan falls in the course of developing bilateral relations and to perpetuate these relations so as to be an example to be followed by two neihgboring states linked to ties of militant struggle, culture and geography. He stressed his own care to eliminate obstacles hindering the development of relations with Sudan.
He two Presidents held two close- door sessions following the inaugural session. They discussed bilateral files including postponed files especially the security file.
President Afourki arrived in al-Khartoum on Wednesday leading a high ranking official delegation in a visit to Sudan which will last for four days.
Meantime, the Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said that Eritrea's President Asyasi Afourki will meet during his current visit to al-Khartoum several leaderships of the opposition Sudanese parties inside the country, besides his official meeting with government's officials.
In statements issued on Thursday by the Sudanese dailies, Othman Ismael denied that President Afourki who arrived in al-Khartoum on Wednesday is carrying any proposal from the opposition coalition on the peaceful solution in the country in light of the historical meeting which brought together President al-Bashir and the chairman of the opposition coalition Muhammad Othman al-Meir Ghani recently in Asmara.
Ismael added that government is open and does accept any messages reaching it from anywhere but under the condition to be in the context of proposed initiatives.
On the Sudanese- Eritrea relations, the Sudanese foreign minister explained that these relations are not in their natural course due to the obstacles standing between the two sides, but he stressed that the two countries have already taken measures to normalize bilateral relations.