Asmara — President Isaias Afwerki today received and held talks at the State Palace with the Yemeni Foreign Minister, Dr. Abubaker Al-Khurbi, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ahmed Abulkheit, and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Amr Mousa. All three officials were here to take part in the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the East Sudan Front.

In the meeting, the Yemeni Foreign Ministered conveyed a verbal message to President Isaias from President Ali Abdalla Saleh. In his message, President Ali Abdalla Saleh lauded the supreme role of President Isaias in the process of the peace dialogue between the Sudanese Government of National Unity and the East Sudan Front leading to the peace agreement. The two sides also conducted in-depth discussions on Eritrean-Yemeni relations and future prospects.

Likewise, in the meeting between President Isaias and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ahmed Abulkheit delivered a message of congratulations and appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of his country in which President Housni Mubarek commended the efforts exerted by the people and Government of Eritrea to enable the Sudanese people and government to achieve this successful outcome.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abulkheit asserted: "This Agreement constitutes a historic event that would have a great impact in ensuring peace and stability not only in East Sudan but also in Darfur and in the region as a whole."

Also in the meeting with the President, the Arab League Secretary General, Mr. Amr Mousa, stated that Eritrea has played a decisive role in the Sudanese peace agreement. Moreover, he pointed out that this Agreement besides being exemplary provides a major lesson towards resolving the existing other misunderstandings in the region, in addition to having a lasting impact.