For almost one and a half years, Ethiopia and Eritrea have been planting seeds of peace via reuniting separated families, restoring diplomatic ties, resuming direct flights and reopening borders after two decades of animosity.
Now the time has come to change gear in a bid to speed up both countries’ cooperation across all fronts. On the recent occasion of laying cornerstone for the new Eritrean Embassy building in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia and Eritrea have just begun to take path of prosperity drawing lessons from their 20 years of stand-off.
He expressed his heartfelt thanks to President Isaias Afwerki for his firm stance for consolidating peace and cooperation between the two sisterly countries. “We laid the foundation stone for the new building of Eritrean Embassy at the eve of 2020 New Year and, so it is Christmas gift of the people and Government of Ethiopia to the people and Government of Eritrea”
The premier also noted that Ethiopia has close cooperation with Eritrea in all sectors and the construction of the embassy would further strengthen Ethio- Eritrea ties .
For his part, President Isaias expressed gratitude for the hospitality accorded to his delegation and reiterated Eritrea’s “resolute decision to work with requisite vigor to recoup lost opportunities by three generation to bolster new chapter of cooperation between the two countries.”
He also wished a Happy New Year to the people and Government of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew , his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh, senior officials of the two countries and Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa as well as invited guests were in attendance at the event.
According to some available information, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and President Isaias Afwerki held a great long discussion on implementation of concrete joint developmental programmes and infrastructural linkages in the year ahead.
During at the evening celebrating a shared peace on last Thursday, Premier Abiy reaffirmed that both governments are working with redoubled efforts to consummate peace process and forge robust ties of bilateral cooperation in several sectors.
Earlier on Thursday, President Isaias and his delegation accompanied by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed visited Adama City, Oromia State, and the industrial park there as well as agricultural and industrial projects in Bishoftu and Dukem. President Isaias Afwerki flew back to Asmara yesterday after a fruitful two-day working visit to Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald, December 28/2019
BY DANIEL BEYENE
