Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki held talks with Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on Thursday(May 24, 2012) in Asmara on a number of bilateral issues.

President Al-Bashir is in Asmara on a three day visit, attending the country’s independence celebrations. Eritrea became independent on May 24th 1993 after a referendum.

The talks dealt with enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation between Sudan and Eritrea.

The two leaders agreed to make their shared border more open following an agreement earlier this month to abolish entry visa requirements, opening their common border for the free movement of both nationals in both directions.

They also discussed the state of relations between Sudan and South Sudan and President Isaias condemned South Sudan’s military seizure of Heglig last month, and called on both sides to immediately normalize their relations.

The Sudanese government this week called on African nations to withdraw from membership of the International Criminal Court, arguing that the continent must act in a united stand against what Khartoum said were the “double standards” of ICC.

Eritrea like many other countries has rejected the ICC’s call for President Al-Bashir’s arrest.

Source: MFA Press section – May 27, 2012

************

Check the Eritrea archive for related posts.