By Tesfa-alem Tekle

November 22,2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia’s ruling party, Ethiopia People’s Revolutionary Democratic front (EPRDF) and Sudan’s dominant National Congress Party on Sunday signed cooperation agreement of mutual interest.

The agreement was signed between Ethiopian foreign affairs minister Seyoum Mesfin and Sudanese presidential advisor Dr. Mustofa Osman Ismail.

"We have signed agreement of common interest to cooperate on bilateral and international issues of our concern" Seyoum Mesfin said today in news aired on the official Amharic Ethiopian television.

"And a mechanism is designed for its implementation," he added.

According to their agreement, both parties will broadly work (in joint) to boost people to people ties of Sudan and Ethiopia, especially to harmonize peoples laying along the common border.

Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, advisor to the Sudanese president, on his part said that the latest agreement will further take the peace and development cooperation of the two countries in to a much higher level. Further, he added that it expands experience exchange between the countries.

Both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to the existing modalities and emphasized the need to ensure speedy implementation of their agreements previously signed on various fields with a view to enhance their multi-lateral ties.

The latest agreement between the two neighbours comes after Sana’a forum member countries gathered in Yemen to witness support for the Yemeni government in regard to the current situation of instability caused by a conflict triggered in north of the country.

Sana’a grouping which brought senior officials of Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia on their meeting yesterday announced full support for Yemen saying Yemeni security concern is a concern to their respective countries and parcel to the horn of Africa region as a whole.

During his visit, Ethiopian foreign affairs minister Seyoum Mesfin was briefed by president Saleh on latest developments of Yemen, particularly the current situation in the north, where army is battling the Houthi insurgent group.

Sana’a forum was established under a 2003-Addis Ababa agreement between countries of Yemen, Ethiopia Sudan and Somalia.

(ST)