Dr. Abiy leadership enhances ever growing relations
ADDIS ABABA – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Ethiopia pledged to strengthen his country’s diplomatic and economic relations with Ethiopia through people-to-people ties. He also appreciated Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s role in forging ever growing ties between the two sisterly countries. Hosting recently iftar (Ramadan dinner) program for Arab embassies, Ethiopian Muslim scholars as well as the press at Sheraton Addis Hotel, Ambassador Sami Jamil Abdullah expressed the warm wish for the people of Ethiopia on the occasion of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
He told The Ethiopian Herald events such as iftar paves way for people of the two nations to exchange views and consolidate the Ethio-Saudi all-rounded relations. Ambassador Sami said it is his country’s desire to strengthen the long-standing bilateral tie with Ethiopia via creating strong people-to- people relations. Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Ethiopia has been capitalized on iftar and the annual National Day occasions to enhance the people-to-people and cultural ties between the two countries besides the political and economic partnership, he added.
“As a newly appointed ambassador to Ethiopia, the iftar was a great occasion for me to meet a large number of officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government organs and the event availed the opportunity to exchange views on how to work for the furtherance of the two countries already strong relations.” Noting the religious, cultural and geographical closeness between the two countries, the ambassador stated that hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work in the Kingdom and improve theirlivelihoods whilst Ethiopia has become the preferred destination for Saudi tourists.
The tourists have been witnessing Ethiopia’s muchcherished culture of hospitality while visiting the country’s tourist attraction sites. According to him, Ethio-Saudi age-old relation has been growing from time to time following frequent visits of high-level officials and the visit Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed made to Saudi Arabia in May and September 2018 have played key role in enhancing the two countries economic cooperation in general and paving ways for Saudi’s priority agricultural investment in particular.
Furthermore, consensus was also reached to strengthen partnership in the energy and tourism sectors as well as undertake joint studies to connect the two countries via electric power lines. Ambassador Sami expressed readiness to consolidate Saudi Arabia’s multifaceted relations with Ethiopia in economic and diplomatic frontiers during his tenure in Addis Ababa. Apart from the strong political and economic relations, Saudi Arabia has remained Ethiopia’s development partner by providing significant support for the construction of the country’s various projects under Saudi Fund for Development and other institutions.
The ambassador conveyed gratitude for the cooperation and support he has been receiving from the people and government of Ethiopia in his efforts in maintaining the relations which is already in a good shape. A renowned scholar and researcher of Islamic history, Adem Kamil said on the occasion that Ethiopia has an age-long history of accommodating people of various religions that was manifested by welcoming Companions of Prophet Muhammed in the first Hijra.
Ethiopia could share Saudi’s success in building the economy through a concerted action of people and it needs to cherish the long-standing brotherhood, understanding and cooperation with the Kingdom and deepen and further boost the ties, Adem remarked. Embassy relations between the two countries began in 1948, when Saudi Arabia opened its mission in Addis Ababa, placed it among the first Arab countries to start diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald May 21/ 2019
BY BILAL DERSO
