Ethiopia, Egypt Mutual Cooperation Pacts

Ethiopia and Egypt have signed cooperation agreements and memorandum of understanding in various sectors at the conclusion of the third Ethiopia-Egyptian joint ministerial meeting. The meeting was concluded by issuing 15 points communique. The two governments reaffirmed that they would work closely to further enhance the existing relations.

Speaking on the occasion Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the two countries signed cooperation agreements in the areas of agriculture, trade, health, transit live animals and beef meat, economic development, information science, technology, education, air service, media and communications among others. He said economic relations of the two countries have gained momentum and the joint commission encourages efforts of the two countries.

Increased Trade Partnership
Seyuom said the trade volume exchange of the two countries has been growing by 20 per cent. He said that the ever increased trade partnership, projects with Egyptian investors was significantly boosting the economic relations of the two sisterly nations. The two countries will remain the leading partners in the region and in the whole Africa to ensure peace and stability as well as economic cooperation.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on his part said his government is committed to further consolidate the age along relations with Ethiopia. He said the relations were confined with the Nile River and also cultural and religious. The foreign minister said his government is working to enhance trade relations of the two countries by encouraging Egyptian investors to Ethiopia.

Comprehensive Peace Agreement
As the communique stated, the two sides exchange views on current regional political and security issues in particular on the situation in Somalia and the Sudan. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the agreement recently signed between the Transitional Federal Government of Somali (TFG) and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a. They also stressed the immediate need for focused and concerted action by the international community to support the TFG and its institutions.

The two countries noted that the Djibouti peace process is the only viable option to bring lasting peace, security and stability in that country. They also expressed their commitment to continue to support the efforts of the Sudanese parties in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Egypt appreciated the important leadership role of Ethiopia in IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) and its current chairmanship. They also stressed the critical role that IGAD plays in ensuring the full and expeditious implementation of CPA.

Ethiopia also lauded Egypt's role for its current chairmanship of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the China-Africa Forum and African Ministerial Committee on Science and Technology (AMCOST) and assured of its support in these bodies. The third ministerial meeting was preceded by the senior officials and experts' meeting which was convened from 26-29 March 2010.