ADDIS ABABA—Yemen sees the pledge the Ethiopian government made to contribute due share to Yemeni peace process as a good gesture that is taking in to account the two countries intertwined fate, the country’s Chargé d’ affaires to Ethiopia said.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, the Chargé Yahya Al-Eryanistated that Yemen appreciated Ethiopia’s firm stance for peace and its commitment in the importance of diplomatic resolution of conflicts. The initiative to take part in the efforts towards solving the disputes among Yemeni warring factions is also showcased the countries good neighborliness.
Yahya said that he learnt Ethiopia’s principled stance on Yemeni Crisis to be resolved through dialogue and national consensuses from his consultation with country’s high-level officials. “I met with Ethiopian highranking officials and they told me that the country is willing to accept the request to play a role in the peace process that aimed at addressing the conflict in peaceful manner.”
Ethiopia, as a seat of the African Union and a leading player in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is expected to take part to resolve the problem through diplomatic means, he added. The Chargé d’ affaires indicated that the efforts and roles of the Ethiopian Government to bring lasting peace and stability in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and across the region as whole manifests its unique experience in resolving crisis.
Regarding the two countries people-to-people ties, Yahya noted that the strong historical relation is a factor for the people of Yemen to have a more a positive attitude towards Ethiopia and live in the country as their second home. Ethiopia embraces a significant number of Yemenis by virtue of cultural and demographic intermingling and Yemeni people do not feel alienated while live and work in the country.
Noting the two countries unwavering partnership, the Chargé said that the then South Yemen Government sent troops to fight in the side of Ethiopia during the 1977-78 Ethio-Somali War. Among the Middle East countries, Yemen has the closest historical relations with Ethiopia and sources indicating it had at one time been part of the Axumite Kingdom. Opening its embassy in 1964 in Addis Ababa, Yemen was also among the first Arab countries to start diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 26/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
