webmaster
© Copyright DEHAI-Eritrea OnLine, 1993-2011
All rights reserved
From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Aug 17 2011 - 12:05:44 EDT
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.asp?id=10170
Eritrean president in Uganda pledges to support regional peace efforts
Source: XINHUA | 2011-8-17
KAMPALA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has pledged
to support efforts aimed at stabilizing the East African region that has
faced decades of war, a State House statement issued here said on Wednesday.
Afwerki, whose three-day state visit to Uganda entered day two, on Wednesday
thanked his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni for his efforts to search
for peace and development in the region.
"When we meet, we talk inspiring issues and I really feel at home. I also
appreciate the contributions of President Museveni and I urge him to
continue. I will support him in all his endeavors," Afwerki said at a state
banquet held late on Tuesday.
Museveni described Afwerki as a freedom fighter who left his degree course
to fight for the freedom of his country at a tender age.
Museveni also described Eritrea's ruling part as a serious political
organization just like Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
"When President Afwerki comes here, we hold long talks because the party he
leads is a very serious organization like the NRM; and we hold serious talks
not just diplomacy or champagne," he said.
Afwerki's visit to Uganda is seen as crucial to the peace and stability of
the Eastern African region that has been plagued by war especially Somalia.
Eritrea is under UN sanctions for bankrolling a Somali militant group Al
Shabaab which is seen as a regional security threat. Eritrea denies the
charges.
Intergovernmental Authority on Development member countries have called for
the tightening of the sanctions to compel Eritrea stop the alleged funding
of the outfit that has started carrying out foreign attacks.
The group claimed responsibility of the July 2010 Kampala bombings that left
about 80 people dead and scores of others injured.
It said the attack was in revenge of Uganda's deployment of peacekeeping
troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
During Afwerki's visit the two leaders are expected to discuss the Somalia
crisis extensively.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----