The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Meles Alem today (30 April 2021) paid a courtesy call on the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Raychelle Omamo at her office.
During the meeting, Ambassador Meles briefed CS Omamo on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Among others, the Ambassador briefed the CS about the ongoing tripartite negotiations on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Dr. Arkebe Eqoubay’s candidature as the Director General of the United Nations International Development Organization (UNIDO), the Ethio-Sudan border issue, the consolidated efforts of the Government of Ethiopia in Tigray region towards an unfettered provision of humanitarian aid and rapid rehabilitation of the region as well as the upcoming national elections in Ethiopia.
The Cabinet Secretary said Kenya’s desire to deepen the traditional ties with Ethiopia. The CS expressed her confidence in the capability of respective parties to resolve their differences with regards the GERD and the Ethio-Sudan border through peaceful means under the rubric of the pan-African philosophy of “African Solutions for African Problems”.
CS Omamo noted borders should be areas of cooperation rather than sources of confrontation between and among the contiguous States. With regards to the upcoming National Elections in Ethiopia, H.E. the CS alluding to Kenya’s experience noted that the journey towards creating a free, democratic and developed society is fraught with challenges and expressed Kenya’s firm belief in capacity of the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that the transition is undertaken smoothly.
As an African Union endorsed Ethiopian candidate for the seat of the Director General of the UNIDO, CS Omamo reiterated Kenya’s unwavering support to the candidature of Dr. Arkebe Eqoubay for the post.
In addition to the aforementioned issues, the Cabinet Secretary also expressed Kenya’s desire to take the longstanding diplomatic ties of Kenya and Ethiopia a notch higher through continued engagements and revitalization of the plethora of strategic bilateral agreements.
Ambassador Meles, on his part, reiterated Ethiopia’s firm commitment to the guiding principles and philosophies of the African Union – “African Solutions for African Problems”- to effect a peaceful resolution of the issues surrounding the GERD and the Ethio-Sudan border.
He stated the fact that the Nile belongs to all riparian countries and that it requires to institute mechanisms geared towards fair and equitable share of the waters to ensure that both Ethiopia and the low riparian countries of Egypt and the Sudan benefit accordingly.
The border between Ethiopia and Sudan, Ambassador Meles noted, should not have a source of conflict rather cooperation as the two countries share not only common borders but also common people since time immemorial. In this regard, the Ambassador underscored Ethiopia’s firm commitment to bring about a peaceful solution to the matter through negotiations once statusquo is restored.
In light of the upcoming national elections in Ethiopia due to take place in June 2021, Ambassador Meles, told CS Omamo that the GoE is working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are conducted in free, fair and peaceful manner as this year’s elections mark a watershed moment in shaping Ethiopia’s future for the better.
Appreciating the Government of Kenya for its unwavering support to the Ethiopian candidate running for the post of the DG of UNIDO, the Ambassador noted that, Ethiopia and Kenya as strategic partners for over six decades need to work closely to further enhance their multifaceted diplomatic ties that have been chiefly characterized by stability and consistency, among other things.
The Ethiopian Herald May 4/2021
