Asmara, 12 October 2010, (Shabait) - President Isaias Afwerki returned home in the afternoon hours today after participating in the African-Arabian Summit that was held in the Libyan city of Sirte on October 10.

The Summit in which a number of African and Arab Heads of State took part aimed at opening a new stage for the existing partnership of relations and cooperation among such countries. Reports indicated that the participants of the Summit reached understanding on agenda items helpful to this end.

During his stay in Sirte, President Isaias held talks with the Chadian and Libyan leaders on bilateral and regional issues.

In a meeting held in the afternoon hours yesterday, Presidents Isaias and Muammar Khadafi conducted discussion on enhancing Eritrean-Libyan relations of partnership, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern to both countries.

Also in a meeting held in the morning hours of the same day, President Isaias held talks with President Idris Debi of Chad on bilateral and regional issues.

It is to be recalled that President Isaias left for Libya on October 9 to attend the African-Arabian Summit.

SIRT, LIBYA, Oct. 10 (Saba, Yemen News Agency) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen reviewed on Sunday with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki issues in the agenda of the 2nd Arab-African summit being held on Sunday in the Libyan city of Sirt.

Saleh and Afwerki discussed a strategic project of Arab-African partnership and the Arab-African joint action plan for 2011 – 2016.

The two Presidents discussed a resolution draft of establishing an Arab-African fund to encounter disasters in addition to the outcomes of extraordinary Arab summit concluded yesterday [Saturday] in Sirt city.

Saleh and Afwerki reviewed the bilateral relations and aspects of joint cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, Osman Mohammed Saleh, arrived in Tripoli on Sunday to take part in the consultative meeting of (CEN-SAD ) Executive Council on 25-26 January.

According to the Libyan news agency JANA the minister was received at Tripoli International Airport by delegate of General Protocol and Ambassador of Eritrea to Libya.

The Community of Sahel-Saharan States was established on 4th February 1998 in Tripoli, Libya. CEN-SAD became a Regional Economic Community during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Lomé (Republic of Togo) on 4-12 July 2000.

The regional body was formed to create an economic union of Sahel-Saharan States representing socio-economic interests of its members in agriculture, industry, energy, social culture and health.

It’s not clear whether all member states are attending the ongoing summit in Tripoli. Tensions arose between Djibouti and Libya after the the latter voted against imposing sanctions on Eritrea in December 2009.

As a result, Djibouti threatened to suspend its membership of CEN-SAD, whose Secretary General is the Libyan diplomat Mohammed Al-Madani El Azahri, and to boycott the Arab League Summit scheduled for March 27 in Libya.

Cen-Sad

An US war ship made a three day visit to the Lybian port of Tobruk due to cooperation missions aiming to strengthen the maritime partnership between both countries. The visit is said to be the first arrival of an American navy ship for 40 years. Read more: Reuters.

An Eritrean delegation lead by the Eritrean Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived in Libya for the 12th extra ordinary session of the AU. read more: