http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/03/24/al-sisi-meets-south-sudanese-defence-minister/
http://www.turkishpress.com/news/396336/
Egypt defense minister meets S. Sudan counterpart in Cairo
Sunday, March 23, 2014
CAIRO – Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met Sunday with his South Sudanese counterpart Kuol Manyang Juuk, Egypt's state MENA news agency reported.
During the meeting with Juuk, al-Sisi reportedly expressed his trust in the ability of the South Sudanese people to achieve unity and resolve divisions, the agency said.
The Egyptian army chief also stressed on the "depth of historic relations that bind the two Nile Valley nations."
Jukk's visit to Cairo, the first since he assumed office, comes on the heels of Egypt joining the African mediators trying to reach a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in the world's newest nation.
Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Hamdi Loza visited Addis Ababa last Thursday and Friday and met officials from the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and African Union (A.U.), the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a Saturday statement.
Loza also met with South Sudanese opposition members and representatives of international parties to the talks in Addis Ababa, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
For his part, Juuk delivered a message from South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, commending Egypt's "efforts in supporting the people of South Sudan."
Kiir's message went on to wish Egypt a successful implementation of the political roadmap, which al-Sisi announced during his speech last July declaring the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when Kiir accused his Vice President Riek Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against his regime.
The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The United Nations estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food-insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the fighting.
South Sudan declared independence from Sudan - which shares a border with Egypt - in 2011 after a peace treaty in 2005 that ended decades of civil war.
-
Received on Mon Mar 24 2014 - 13:58:17 EDT