Bilateral cooperation to resume

Eritrea and Djibouti have agreed to resume bilateral cooperation as relations improve following a frosty period, officials of the two countries said.

The agreement came after an Eritrean delegation, led by Foreign Minister Ali Said Abdallah, arrived in Djibouti for a second meeting of the two countries' joint ministerial committee. "We discussed issues between the two countries, and decided to revitalise joint accords," a senior Djibouti government official told IRIN on Monday. "Our relations are once again becoming warm."

Djibouti severed ties with Eritrea in 1998 after Asmara accused it of favouring Ethiopia in the border war between the two countries, allegations which Djibouti at the time described as "false".

"It was due to a misunderstanding," the Djibouti government official said. "Eritrea did not understand that we were neutral." He added that Djibouti had "very good relations" with all countries in the region. "Our ties with Eritrea now are very good," he stressed.

His comments were echoed by Eritrea's deputy ambassador in Kenya, Temedhin Temariam, who said the relationship between the two countries was growing "warmer and warmer". "We are resuscitating and strengthening cooperation," he told IRIN.

Before leaving Asmara, Eritrean Foreign Minister Ali Said Abdallah said the two countries were expected to sign agreements on trade, transport, education, health and immigration, according to Eritrean radio.

Ties between Djibouti and Eritrea began improving towards the end of 1999 and diplomatic relations were restored in March 2000 with Libyan mediation. Analysts note that the two countries are also becoming closer because of a similar stance on the Somali reconciliation process.