Restoring lost warmth

By Dina Ezzat

Perhaps the most sensitive is the Egyptian complaint that Sudan is providing support for Islamist militants bent on destabilising the Cairo regime. Egypt is also upset because Khartoum has not returned Egyptian property in Sudan that was confiscated in the 1990s when relations began to sour.

For its part, Sudan complains that Cairo is becoming "too involved" with the Sudanese opposition.

Reciprocal gestures and steps are now expected from both governments to pave the road towards restoring the lost warmth between them, or at least to make sure that the momentum of improving relations that started earlier this year is not lost due to misunderstandings or lack of contact.

Following the meeting, Ismail said: "As we discussed bilateral relations, we agreed to engage in a joint effort that aims to take relations back to their normal course." He added: "We hope that there will be improvement."

This joint effort would mean that Cairo and Khartoum will have to simultaneously address the political and security concerns expressed by both sides in a way that serves the different agendas of the two governments. The first step in the direction of restoring good neighbourly relations would be for officials on both sides to refrain from mutual verbal attacks, and from launching media campaigns against each other.

According to Moussa, the meeting also dealt with the situation in southern Sudan and Egypt's intention to help "make things move in a way that will serve the interests of the Sudanese people and the territorial integrity of Sudan."

The two ministers declined to answer the obvious question of whether Cairo is going to send an ambassador to Sudan to fill a post that has been vacant for nearly five years. They also declined to speak of a specific schedule for regaining Egypt's confiscated property, which constitutes several irrigation and educational facilities, including a Khartoum branch of Cairo University.