Asmara, 23 March 2009 – A high-level Sudanese government delegation headed by the President, Marshal Omar Hassan Al-Beshir, conducted a one-day official visit to Eritrea at the invitation of President Isaias Afwerki.

The delegation comprising ministers was accorded warm welcome by President Isaias, ministers and other government officials on arrival at Asmara International Airport. The welcoming ceremony also featured salute of guard of honor and the national anthems of the two countries.

In a meeting at the State Palace, Presidents Isaias and Omar Al-Beshir held extensive talks on relations between Eritrea and Sudan and regional issues of mutual concern to both countries.

Following the talks, the two leaders gave press briefings to local and international media outlets.

Expressing appreciation to the warm welcome accorded him in Eritrea, the Sudanese President pointed out that both leaders conducted discussion on further enhancing the historic and solid Eritrean-Sudanese relations in various domains. He particularly lauded the support of the people and Government of Eritrea to Sudanese issues in general and the unity and stability of the Sudan in particular. "My visit to Eritrea at the invitation of President Isaias Afwerki has a strong message to convey to the forces of monopoly and domination," President Omar Al-Beshir declared.

Likewise, President Isaias pointed out that the Sudanese leader’s visit attests to the shared views of both governments, and that the verdict given in the name of the so-called ‘International Criminal Court’ against President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir is a political decision made under the pressure of those forces seeking to ensure their domination in this region. In this regard, President Isaias elaborated that the verdict not only aggravates the prevailing situation in Sudan but also targets the peace and stability of the countries in the region, and as such Eritrea totally rejects it.

Stating that Eritrea’s desire is the safeguarding of peace, stability and security in the Sudan, the President asserted that as any move that targets this objective represents contempt to the people of the region, Eritrea rejects it. Moreover, President Isaias reiterated that Eritrea supports the resolution of the Sudanese issue on the basis of Sudanese-Sudanese solution without external interference.

On departure for home from Asmara International Airport, the high-level Sudanese government delegation headed by President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir was accorded warm send off by President Isaias Afwerki, ministers, senior government and PFDJ officials.

It is to be recalled that in a message he sent on March 10, President Isaias invited the Sudanese leader to pay an official visit to Eritrea.