JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
Of the Third Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation
Khartoum, 27 December 2004

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1. At the kind invitation of H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, and H.E. Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, met on 27 ^th  and  28 ^th  of December 2004, in Khartoum for the Third Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation.
    

2. H.E. Abdullah Yousuf Ahmed, President of Somalia and H.E. Amre Musa, Secretary General of the Arab League, attended the session as guests.
    

3. The Summit unanimously endorsed the request of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia H.E. Abdullah Yousuf Ahmed to join the membership of the Sana's Forum for cooperation effective as of this session
    

4. H.E. Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, presented a progress report on the follow up of the activities of the Forum since the second Summit held in Addis Ababa in December 2004. The two Presidents commended the excellent performance and expressed their appreciation for his judicious and able leadership of the Forum. 
    

5. The three Leaders expressed appreciation for the effort exerted by the Executive and the Specialized Committees to ensure the implementation of the follow-up of the decisions reached at the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding on Fighting against illegal Trade through borders and coasts, on Establishing joint Business Council, Cooperation in the field of Export Promotion between the three countries, Maritime, as well as the Plan of Action of the Sana'a Forum in political and diplomatic fields.
    

6. The three Leaders reviewed the regional and international situation and its impact on the sub-region. They expressed sincere desire and full commitment to work together to attain durable peace, security and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa and Southern Red Sea Sub-Region. They also strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reaffirming their full commitment and determination to cooperate with the international community to fight against it.
    

7. H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir, President of the Republic of the Sudan, and H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen appreciated and warmly welcomed the five-point peace proposal presented by the Government of Ethiopia to resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and urged the two Governments to engage in dialogue with the view to normalizing relation between them.
    

8. The three Leaders expressed their satisfaction at the successful conclusion of Somali Peace Process: the formation of the parliament, the election of  the President and the appointment of the Prime Minister under the uspices of IGAD and its partners, and urged them to soonly relocate it inside the country. They also called upon the international community to commit funds to enable the interim Government to establish its authority in Somalia as soon as possible.
    

9. The Summit appreciated the role played by IGAD and AU and welcomed the initiative of the Arab League expressed by H.E. Amre Musa to contribute to regional and international initiative for the reconstruction of Somalia.
    

10. Briefing the Summit on the situation in Sudan, H.E. Omer Hassan  Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, reaffirmed his Government commitment to conclude a final peace agreement according to the time frame, and undertake the necessary steps to restore security, protect civilians in Darfur and facilitate access to humanitarian relief in cooperation with the AU, UN, NGOS and the international community.
     

11. On their part the two leaders, President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi commended the envisaged signature of the peace agreement and the commitment of the two parties to conclude a final peace agreement, and called upon the international community to contribute generously in the reconstruction and development of the war-affected regions in Sudan.
     

12. The three Leaders urged the resumption of peace process with the view of finding a just and durable solution to the conflict in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions. They expressed their hope the Road Map would finally lead to the establishment of the viable Palestinian State and the realization of peace and stability in the Middle East.
     

13. H.E. President Ali Abdallah Salih the President of Yemen introduced a comprehensive vision for reconciliation between countries in the region. Dialogue will be the basis for this reconciliation and conflict resolution. President Albashir and Prime Minister Zenawi praised this initiative and welcomed the Yemeni efforts in this regard.
     

14. The Leaders reaffirmed their support for an independent, democratic Iraq and the vital role of the United Nations for the reconstruction of the country.
     

15. H.E. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia welcomed the invitation by H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, to host the next Summit of the Sana'a Forum for Cooperation in Sana'a during the last week of December 2005.
     

16. H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, and H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia expressed their gratitude and thanks to the President, the Government and the people of Sudan for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to them and their accompanying delegations during their stay in Khartoum.

 Done in Khartoum, 25 ^th December 2004.