Since last Wednesday, President Isaias Afwerki had been on state visit to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and visited a number of development and industrial projects apart from laying cornerstone for the new building of Eritrean Embassy in Addis Ababa.
President Isaias in his own words said that he was grateful for the warm hospitality of the people of Ethiopia and government. Particularly he extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed for organizing such fruitful working visit.
In fact, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Isaias met for first time in Addis Ababa after Premier received 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. In his recent speech accepting Noble Prize in Oslo, PM Abiy said: “ I am accepting the award on behalf of my partner and comrade in peace, President Isaias Afwerki whose good will, trust, and commitment were vital in ending the two decade deadlock between Ethiopia and Eritrea.”
The premier also told the whole world that the peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea is iron-clad and both leaders want the Horn of Africa to become a treasury of peace and progress. Therefore, the recent state visit by President Isaias Afwerki to Ethiopia has vividly testified that how determined both leaders are in peace building and development efforts in the year ahead.
Yes, the ongoing political and economic reforms in Ethiopia deserve appreciation and unreserved support of all friendly countries in order for the reforms to gain momentum. Indeed, the recent meeting of both leaders has paved the way for bolstering up the two countries’ ties in all fields.
It is true that Ethiopia and Eritrea are two countries and one people. This is because they have a shared destiny of prosperity and they have already begun implementing joint infrastructural and developmental projects as well.
Apparently, Ethiopia and Eritrea have started to benefit from the peace dividends. The two countries have so far carried out telecommunication transaction worth 4.5 million USD and over 5 million USD in Air service as well.
More importantly, both countries have also attached high importance to revamping of Eritrea’s ports of Assab and Massawa as they agreed to a comprehensive, strategic, cooperative partnership. Thanks to both leaders’ unwavering commitment, in less than one and half years, Ethio-Eritrean partnership has begun bearing fruits in various fields.
In summing up, the whole world is now watching the ever-flourishing and all round bilateral ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea. These two sisterly countries’ exemplary ties will also provide further impetus for the current cooperation among Horn of African countries as a whole and expedite the two countries’ path of prosperity.
The Ethiopian Herald, December 28/2019
