Foreign minister meets Sudanese and Yemeni counterparts

The Ethiopian, Sudanese and Yemeni foreign ministers have agreed to enhance their common security in the region, the Ethiopian foreign ministry announced on Friday. The move comes after high-level talks were held by the countries' leaders at a two-day summit in Yemen.

"The three foreign ministers held extensive discussions on ways and means of further enhancing the multifaceted relationship among the three countries in the economic, political, security, cultural and other fields of mutual interest," the foreign ministry statement said. It said all three countries were keen to promote closer ties so as to ensure "peace" in the Horn of Africa.

The statement made no reference indicating the representation of Eritrea at the meeting. Earlier talks between the three leaders had also focused on Eritrea and its role in the region. Ethiopia accused the tiny Red Sea state of trying to destabilise the Horn. This sparked anger from the Eritreans, who described the three countries as forming an "axis of belligerence".

The Ethiopian foreign ministry's statement said the ministers had agreed to set up three subcommittees respectively to examine issues relating to politics and information, peace and security, and economics, business and culture.

It went on to say that "the ministers have, in their assessment of matters of mutual concern, reached a common understanding on a number of issues". They had stated that all three countries were keen to ensure the success of the peace processes in Sudan and Somalia.

Their next meeting is expected to be held in in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in mid-December.