Egypt emphasizes stability in Arab Gulf, Horn of Africa

Jan 14, 2007 05:01:14

POL-EGYPT-ERITREA Egypt emphasizes stability in Arab Gulf, Horn of Africa CAIRO, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak said here Tuesday his country attaches much attention to security and stability in the Arab Gulf region and the Horn of Africa, a presidential spokesman said. The remarks were made by Mubarak at a meeting with visiting Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Solyman Awwad told reporters following the meeting. Mubarak takes into consideration the significant role by the region's countries in general and Eritrea and Ethiopia in particular in dealing with problems facing the region, whether among them or concerning Somalia, he said. "The security of the northern Red Sea is closely related to security in the Arab Gulf and the Horn of Africa", he said, noting that President Mubarak hoped that the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia would be settled peacefully. On the role of the international society to contain the volatile situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the presidential spokesman said "The international society has a responsibility to assume in this respect. The international society, which I mean, exists inside and outside the UN, particularly the UN Security Council which has made resolutions on the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea on the implementation of the border demarcation deal, especially the disputed Badmi area." He called on the international society and regional partners to play a role in the implementation of the Eritrean-Ethiopian border agreement in a bid to defuse tension between both nations. Egypt is making continued contacts with parties concerned in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, neighboring countries, European Union and US, with a view to stemming the tide of deterioration in Somalia, and facilitating the deployment of African peacekeepers there, Awadh added. President Mubarak acts as a facilitator between Eritrea and Ethiopia in order to defuse tension between the two African nations, he said, quoting Mubarak as defending the Somalia people's right to have peace, security and stability. Egypt seeks to sponsor a dialogue among Somali factions under a trilateral umbrella involving the African Union, Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and Arab League, he said. Egypt supports the deployment of peacekeeping forces under the umbrella of the African Union (AU) pursuant to an AU resolution in September 2006, which was supported by UN Resolution 1725. Talks between both Egyptian and Eritrean leaders also touched upon bilateral relations and cooperation between Egypt and Eritrea, he said, quoting Afwerki as expressing willingness to promote relations with Egypt. He predicted that Afwerki's visit to Egypt would have several favorable effects on the situation in the Horn of Africa as well as the level of bilateral relations. (end) sm. mt KUNA 092251 Jan 07NNNN