Delegates from the Eritrean People's Liberation Front-Democratic Party (EPLF-DP) and the Movement for Democractic Change (MDC) met in Khartoum, Sudan last week to discuss a framework for eventual unity between the two parties.

The delegates, which were headed by Mr. Mohammed Nur Ahmed and Mr. Semere Kesete, reached an agreement to implement a two-step framework: a six month transitionary period followed by total integration of the parties.  

Mohammed Nur Ahmed was Eritrea's ambassador to China and Semere Kesete was the president of the student union in Asmara University.

Reached in Sudan by telephone, an EPLF-DP representative informed our reporter that his organization is exploring ways and conducting consultations to form a broad-based, "national and united umbrella movement" that is not limited just to political parties but "the civil society organizations as well."  Asked about the challenge of harmonizing the goals of the differement movements, he explained "the EPLF-DP, for example, supports the right of conservative societies to preserve their traditional laws and family codes."