April 22, 2006, 6 hours, 20 minutes and 19 seconds ago.

By ANDnetwork .com

An Eritrean delegation in Khartoum held talks with Mr. Salva Kiir, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and Chairman of the South Sudan government.

. The meeting came in the wake of Dr. Salva Kiir's visit to Eritrea and talks with President Isaias Afwerki. In the course of its visit from April 11 to 15, 2006, the Eritrean delegation also met with Dr. Nafi Ali Nafi and other officials of the Sudanese Government of National Unity.

The Head of Organizational Affairs at the PFDJ, Mr. Abdella Jabir, told Eritrean media that the Eritrean delegation also held a series of discussions with the high-level committee that was set up by the Sudanese Government of National Unity to develop bilateral relations between Eritrea and the Sudan that comprises representatives from senior leaders of the National Congress Party of Sudan and that of the SPLM.

Moreover, Mr. Abdella stated that the delegation had exchange of views on Eritrea's role in resolving the Darfur and East Sudan issue. He further indicated that the high-level committee requested the Eritrean delegation that Eritrea host a dialogue on resolving the East Sudan issue, as well as participate in the Abuja talks on resolving the Darfur issue.

Noting the long standing and historical ties between Eritrea and Sudan, and the constructive role Eritrea played in helping promote a successful outcome of the South Sudan peace process within IGAD as well as the contribution it made to the Abuja talks on resolving the Darfur issue and in the conviction that peace in the Sudan would have a positive impact on Eritrea and the region as a whole, Mr. Abdella Jabir pointed out that Eritrea is equally prepared to host a dialogue between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the East Sudan Front on resolving the East Sudan issue.

According to him, both parties have agreed to hold a preliminary meeting on reaching agreement on technical issues so that Eritrea as an intermediary could listen to the views of the East Sudan Front and organize a meeting of both parties as the earliest.

As regards the Abuja talks between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and representatives of Sudanese opposition groups, as well as Eritrea's possible role, the PFDJ official indicated that Eritrea is ready to send a delegation in order that it may hear the views of the Sudanese government on the still unresolved issue, find out the views of leaders of the Darfur opposition forces, promote a lasting peaceful political solution to the Darfur issue and evaluate Eritrea's possible role thereof.