Afourki denies Asmara's tense relations with Sudan

Eritrea's President Asyas Afourki yesterday in Cairo denied any tension in the relations between his country and Sudan. He called not to be "annoyed by statements which are not positive."

Afourki told journalists in conclusion of his meeting yesterday with the secretary general of the Arab League (AL), Amr Moussa, on the accusations made by Sudan against Eritrea of supporting the rebels and interfering in Sudan's internal affairs that "the Sudanese statements are not on the right track and problems between Eritrea and Sudan do not require this big media campaign." Afourki considered that "conditions in the African horn area deserve from the Arab League all interest and to carry out an effective and constructive role to solve the African horn problems."

He continued "we have also talked about the relation between Eritrea and the Arab League, and the political decision might be postponed, but the effective cooperation between Eritrea and the AL continues and we will do our best to strengthen this relation." He described the AL as the "house of the Arabs." Moussa denied an AL mediation between Eritrea and Sudan saying "we cannot say there is mediation, but the AL is interested in following up all matters relating to its members and their neighbors, including the African horn. It is a question that should be followed up." Moussa continued he felt during his talks with Afourki the desire to establish "positive relations between his country and Yemen and Sudan."