Sudanese and Eritrean presidents meet

The Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki held a joint session of talks Thursday, at the presidential palace in Asmara. According to Sudan News Agency, al-Bashir, who is participating in National Day celebrations of Eritrea, had to dismount from his motorcade to greet the Eritreans who lined the streets to welcome him. The Sudanese foreign minister, Ali Karti said that the talks dealt with the special relationship between the two countries and how to develop them, pointing out that canceling visas and opening the border between the two countries contributed to the flow of movement of people and trade between the two countries. Karti added that the talks tackled the events that took place between Sudan and South Sudan recently, especially the South's occupation of Heglig in April. Karti stated that al-Bashir gave an enlightened summary to Afwerki of these events and Afewerki expressed his displeasure for the South's aggression towards the North, and he called for the restoring of normal relations between the two Sudans. Karti confirmed that al-Bashir told Afwerki, of Sudan's need to firstly solve the security issues. Salah Barquín, the leader in the Sudanese Beja Congress Party, an active political party in the East of the country which has good relations with Eritrea, described the Sudanese- Eritrean relations as old and strategic. Barquín, said in a statement to Arabstoday that a senior delegation of the party participated in the Eritrean celebrations of its National Day. He added that Eritrea supported the party and East Sudan. Barquín said in previous statements to Arabstoday, that Sudanese foreign relations should be based on common interests and mutual benefits between people. He also hinted that the development of Sudanese- Eritrean relations should not be an obstacle in promoting Sudan’s relation with Ethiopia, as Eritrean-Ethiopian relations have been severely strained in recent years.