From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Sep 13 2008 - 10:32:39 EDT
Al Jazeera English - AJE
Sudan and Chad relations warm
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sudan and Chad have agreed to resume diplomatic relations and deploy
African peacekeeping troops along their shared border to prevent rebel
attacks.
The announcement came during a meeting held by foreign ministers of the
Contact Group on the Sudan-Chad crisis in Eritrea's capital, Asmara.
The neighbouring countries have had rocky relations since May, when
Darfur-based rebels launched an attack near Khartoum - the closet they
have yet come to hitting the seat of Sudan's government.
Sudan accused neighbouring Chad of supporting the fighters and cut ties
immediately. Chad, in turn, closed its border with Sudan and halted
bilateral trade.
Al Jazeera's Jamea Nour, reporting from Asmara, said: "Building trust
between Sudan and Chad and bringing back the relations between the two
countries to how they were before, even if gradually, were the two main
topics tackled during the Asmara-based fifth meeting of foreign
ministers."
"Following intensive talks, Khartoum and N'Djamena have agreed to
exchange ambassadors before the sixth meeting of the group is held."
Both parties also agreed to deploy African military monitors from the
group's seven countries on the borders between the two countries, with
an annual budget that might reach up to $30 million.
The foreign ministers mediating the conflict come from Eritrea, Senegal,
Libya, Gabon and the Congo.
Optimistic talks
Despite a tone of optimism at the summit, the Eritrean president called
on Friday for a more comprehensive political solution for the crisis.
"It is important to realise that looking for a settlement through the
prospect of internalisation may complicate the situation," Isaias
Afworki said. "Settlement efforts must be focused within a narrow local
framework."
Sudan's delegation to the meeting was upbeat about the talks, pinning
blame for the two country's problems on Darfuri fighters.
Deng Alor, the Sudanese foreign minister, said: "Chad and Sudan have had
close and excellent relations as neighbours. The issue of Darfur has
negatively affected this relationship. I believe that it is possible to
improve the relation with Chad."
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad's foreign minister, however, proved less
optimistic.
Mahamat accused Sudan of "still recruiting and arming mercenaries and
rebels" near the border with Chad, for the purpose of overthrowing the
government in N'Djamena.
"This, unfortunately, totally contradicts what we have agreed on," he
said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/09/2008913101927938296.htm
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